Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

INDIANAPOLIS – United States Attorney Joseph H. Hogsett announced today the conviction of three Indianapolis men for their roles in a heroin trafficking organization that operated on the west side of the city. Defendants Brandon Lomax, age 36, Demond Glover, age 35, and Anthony Lomax, age 29, were found guilty on all counts after a nine day jury that included more than 30 witnesses. The twenty criminal counts against them included conspiring to possess heroin as well as the distribution of heroin. The Lomax brothers were also found guilty of federal firearms violations.

"These three men had more than a dozen prior felony convictions between them, and had returned to the streets of Indianapolis more committed than ever to peddling death and violence," Hogsett said. "I want to applaud the investigators and trial team in this case for their hard work in dismantling a dangerous street gang and heroin trafficking ring."

"From an investigative standpoint, we know that narcotics trafficking and illicit firearms use go hand in hand," stated Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Michael Boxler, Columbus Field Division. "ATF remains committed to working alongside our local law enforcement partners to identify and investigate those individuals who engage in these illegal activities."

"Heroin use and distribution is a growing issue and this case is continued evidence of our joint partnerships at work," said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Rick Hite. "We are committed to improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods and to developing long-term partnerships with the community to address his epidemic."

In convicting the three men, the jury found that the defendants conspired between 2009 and 2012 to distribute kilogram-quantities of heroin in and around the Haughville area of

would import the drug to Indianapolis for distribution across the city to other mid-level dealers. Throughout the conspiracy, the defendants spoke on telephones to facilitate their trafficking operation, often using coded and cryptic language to try and avoid detection.

Hogsett acknowledged that heroin use has been on the rise in the Indianapolis area in recent years. He noted that this is due in no small measure to skyrocketing levels of prescription drug addiction and abuse across the Hoosier State. As opiate-addicted individuals lose their supply of prescription drugs, they have increasingly turned to heroin as a cheaper and more available alternative.

"The heroin epidemic knows no geographic boundaries and is blind to what tax bracket you happen to be in," Hogsett added. "We also are keenly aware that we can’t prosecute our way out of this problem. That is why we are redoubling efforts to bring all of our resources to bear on the root causes of these challenges."

To assist in this fight, Hogsett has directed federal prosecutors to work with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office to aggressively investigate doctors who are operating high-volume "pill mill" practices. If they are found to have abused their prescription writing authority, they face potential state and federal prosecution, as well as the revocation of their medical licenses. He has also directed the Office to work with local authorities to seek federal funding for treatment and prevention efforts.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Brady and Melanie Conour, who prosecuted the case for the government, all three men face a minimum of 20 years in federal prison, with the possibility of serving life without parole. Under federal law, the defendants must serve a minimum of 85% of their sentence within a correctional facility. The trio also face years of federally-supervised release at the end of their prison term. The prosecution was the result of a collaborative investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Indiana State Police, as well as the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

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