Feds: Fort Wyane home used to distribute illegal drugs
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – A federal grand jury has indicted two men for allegedly distributing heroin, cocaine and marijuana from a home in the Autumn Ridge subdivision in Fort Wayne, where FBI agents and other law enforcement officers conducted a raid early Tuesday morning. The charges are part of a larger drug distribution conspiracy involving 18 people.
The indictment, issued by the United States District Court in Fort Wayne names Juan M. Gonzalez and Frederick Moore as knowingly and intentionally with others to distribute the drugs from the home located in the 2500 block of Baywood Trail dating back to January. The indictment calls for the forfeiture of any items believed to have been obtained directly or indirectly from the alleged illegal activity. The names of other 16 people connected to the alleged drug operation could be revealed when federal officials conduct a news conference Wednesday. Both men were arrested Tuesday.
Several cars and other items were hauled away from the Autumn Ridge home during the raid.
Multiple locations were raided.
The Autumn Ridge home was just one of several locations raided by federal agents Tuesday morning. One of those locations, American Quality Body and Paint on Wallace Street in Fort Wayne was also raided and is registered to Moore.
Early Tuesday afternoon the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that the Baywood Trail home, American Quality Body and Paint and three other locations where raids were conducted are all linked to Gonzalez and Moore who are both in custody.
The specific addresses for the five locations are as follows:
- 2526 Baywood Trail
- 8711 Voyager Drive
- 13814 Piedmont Cove
- 205 East Wallace
- 2808 Taylor Street
Gonzalez is set to appear in court Wednesday, while Moore’s court appearance has yet to be scheduled because he was arrested in another federal district, however authorities would not say where specifically he was apprehended.
There are possible penalties if convicted.
Both Moore and Gonzalez have been indicted on two counts. The first count is related to the alleged distribution of illegal drugs, while the second count is connected with the use of the Baywood Trail home a place to distribute controlled substances. Under the first count, each defendant could face between 10 years and life in prison, a fine of not more than $10 million or a combination of prison time and a fine if convicted. If either man has one or more felony drug convictions, the penalties would be significantly stiffer. If convicted on the second count, both could face prison time of not more than 20 years or a fine of not more than $500,000 or a combination of both.
More details will be announced Wednesday.