Joshua Minkler

Led agents of the DEA and officers of the IMPD in an investigation into the illegal distribution of stolen firearms and methamphetamine in the Indianapolis area, after an intensive investigation involving electronic surveillance, a confidential informant, an undercover agent, and the execution of numerous search warrants, both defendants were indicted in December of 2009. After a one-week jury trial involving Spanish interpreters, a jury convicted both defendants of all charges, and the judgments were affirmed on appeal. Led a joint FBI, Indiana State Police, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) investigation into public corruption and drug trafficking activities occurring within the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section of the IMPD, which consisted of court-authorized wiretaps, high-risk undercover operations, sophisticated audio and video surveillance and novel witness interview techniques. The investigation revealed IMPD corruption and abuse of positions to divert drugs and drug proceeds to their own use, at times using fictitious search warrants to gain access to private property and at other times breaking into residences and stealing the drugs and money therein. After a two-week trial, the jury returned convictions. Led a team composed of FBI Safe Streets agents, ATF Project Achillies agents, and Indianapolis Police Department officers in conducting a total of 11 court authorized wiretaps over a period of eight months under OCDETF “Operation Westside Story,” which was focused on the Haughville Syndicate, a violent cocaine trafficking organization operating exclusively in that Indianapolis neighborhood. As a result of this investigation a total of 21 defendants were indicted, convicted, and sentenced to federal prison, and most significantly, approximately $67,000 in cash was seized along with 70 illegally possessed firearms, including a machine gun, an Uzi, assault rifles, a 9-millimeter rifle, and several thousand rounds of ammunition. Within the first year of the takedown, violent crime in the IPD West District dropped 67%. Led DEA agents and Indiana State Police investigators in an investigation that involved four court authorized wire intercepts with two extensions under OCDETF “Operation Motley Crew” focusing on RPOT target John Scruggs who was the Akingpin@ of a cocaine trafficking organization operating in Madison, Indiana. As a result, 17 defendants were indicted and 16 were arrested and convicted, and during the investigation, kilograms of cocaine, pounds of marijuana, guns and United States currency were seized, yet more importantly, the elimination of a large drug trafficking organization in a relatively small Indiana tourist town (population 13,000) had a tremendous impact on reducing the availability of illegal drugs, reducing the crime rate and improving the quality of life in that town. Led a team of DEA agents and Indiana State Police investigators in an investigation that involved four court authorized wire intercepts with three extensions under the Department of Justice’s Special Operations Division’s (SOD) “Operation Money Clip,” which was a SOD supported, multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency OCDETF investigation targeting the Henry and Tony Franco-Arrellano poly-drug trafficking organization. As a result, 16 defendants were indicted, arrested, convicted and sentenced in the Southern District of Indiana, and 48 kilograms of cocaine, 875 pounds of marijuana, seven guns, and assets valued at $1,450,000.00 were seized and forfeited. Critically, three Mexican based sources of supply were indicted and convicted in this investigation to include OCDETF priority target. Led an aggressive DEA and Bloomington Police Department investigation that revealed an Indiana University graduate student as the source of supply for 1-2 gram quantities of high purity heroin in the area. Using that student’s cooperation, the investigation moved up the chain to the sources of supply for the heroin involved in the Bloomington overdoses and court authorized wire surveillance, it was determined that the leader of a heroin organization in Indianapolis and its members distributed in excess of three kilograms of heroin that was approximately 80% pure (heroin is typically diluted and ingested at 2-3% purity) over a period of six months. When the seven-month investigation culminated, 150 state, local and federal law enforcement officers executed 17 federal arrest warrants and 15 federal search warrants and large quantities of heroin, currency and firearms were seized; and all 17 defendants were indicted, convicted, and sentenced to prison. Led a joint FBI, DEA, United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Indiana Attorney General, and Jennings County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Department investigation into the fraudulent prescribing, distribution, and billing of OxyContin by an Indianapolis physician and a Jennings County, Indiana, drug dealer – who prescribed more OxyContin to Medicaid recipients in the State of Indiana than any other physician and who received the largest amounts of OxyContin. The five-month investigation employed a variety of law enforcement techniques, including physical surveillance, controlled purchases of OxyContin, a complete financial investigation, court authorized interception of oral communications occurring in the physician’s examination room, and search warrants. In early 2002, both were indicted, convicted and sentenced to prison. These matters occurred before joining Barnes & Thornburg.

Josh Minkler gave the closing remarks at the investiture of the Honorable Matthew P. Brookman, the newest judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Josh, a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, was the only law firm speaker on the program.