Defendants from Vincennes and Palestine, Illinois, were among 11 people sentenced to a total of 123 years in federal prison for their roles in a large drug trafficking ring.
The U.S Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Indiana announced Wednesday that Matthew Wright, 47, of Palestine, Illinois, received 19 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Zachary Polk, 46, of Vincennes, was sentenced to nearly 16 years for the same charge.
The operation, led by Erick Romero, smuggled nearly 400 pounds of methamphetamine and over seven kilograms of fentanyl into the U.S. from Mexico between 2021 and 2022. Romero, who oversaw the trafficking network, also received 19 years.
DEA agents seized 68 kilograms of meth, seven kilograms of fentanyl, and 20 firearms
U.S. Attorney Zachary Myers credited federal, state, and local agencies for dismantling the drug trafficking ring, emphasizing the importance of stopping cartels from flooding communities with fentanyl and meth. He noted that the operation used planes, trains, automobiles, and even the U.S. Mail to smuggle the drugs into Indiana for local distribution.
