Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

New Albany - United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler, announced today and Indianapolis man was sentenced for his role in the murder and robbery of Scoot D. Maxie a gun store owner near North Vernon, Indiana. Darryl A. Worthen, 25, was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison by U. S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker at the federal courthouse in New Albany.

 “This type of violence is something no family or community should have to face,” said Minkler.  “Judge Evans Barker sent a loud and clear message that gun violence will not be tolerated in the Southern District of Indiana and those committing violent crime will be held accountable.”

On September 20, 2014, Darryl Worthen, his brother Dejuan Worthen and cousin Darion Harris traveled from Indianapolis to North Vernon to see what inventory was inside the Muscatatuck Outdoors Gun Shop and made plans to rob the owner.  They drove back to Indianapolis only to return the following day to commit the robbery.

After returning to the gun store on September 21, 2014, one of the defendants disconnected a security camera inside the gun shop.  During the robbery, Darryl Worthen shot and killed Maxey with a .22 caliber handgun then all the defendants stole a large quantity of firearms from the gun shop and returned to Indianapolis.  Once home with the guns, the defendants sold and distributed many of the firearms and kept several for themselves.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Indiana State Police, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Jennings County Sheriff’s Department and the Jennings County Prosecutors Office.

 “There is no place in our society for those who use violence to further their criminal aims, particularly when it costs the life of valued members of our families and communities,” said Donald Soranno, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division.  “ATF takes pride in working with our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels to bring those individuals who commit senseless acts of violence like this to justice and ensure that they cannot cause further harm.”

 “Violent crime will not be tolerated in this community,” said Jennings County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Belding.  “The individuals responsible should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.  The decision to have these individuals charged federally was made after thoughtful consultation with the family members.  My goal was that the individuals responsible for this heinous act serve the maximum sentence under the law.   This was accomplished under the federal sentencing guidelines.  As much as it would be appropriate to prosecute these crimes locally, it was not in the best interest of our community because Mr. Worthen received a harsher sentence in Federal Court. My heart goes out to Mr. Maxie’s family, friends, and loved ones.”

According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barry D. Glickman and William L. McCoskey, who prosecuted this case for the government, Worthen must serve two years of supervised release after his sentence.

Worthen’s co-defendants DeJuan A. Worthen and Darion D. Harris are both awaiting trial on their charges.