INDIANAPOLIS — A Greenfield man is one of 15 individuals who have been charged in a federal indictment alleging a conspiracy to straw purchase dozens of firearms from at least six federally licensed firearms dealers in the Central Indiana area.
Officials from the United States Department of Justice announced the arrests in a press release and noted the defendants have been charged with conspiring to make false statements during the purchase of a firearm, and one or more counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.
While most of the individuals arrested were from Indianapolis, Isiah Thomas Keller, 21, Greenfield, was also arrested and charged. Keller’s case is being held in the United States District Court Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division.
According to federal documents, Keller made his initial appearance on April 29 and entered a not guilty plea. The court is scheduled to look at further evidence on or before May 13, court documents stated. Keller was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending further proceedings before the court, the documents said. He has a court date for a jury trial at 9 a.m. Monday, June 17.
Others indicted included Daylen Bell, 24, Indianapolis; Jaylyn Lamont Crenshaw, 25, Indianapolis; Michaela Evan Day, 27, Indianapolis; Michael Glen Day, 23, Indianapolis; Davone Trae Eans, 24, Indianapolis; Kendall Rayshaun Ezell, 21, Indianapolis; Anthony Keith Jones, 24, Indianapolis; Anthony James Morst, 24, Indianapolis; Caleb Morris Redman, 23, Indianapolis; Jordan Devon Ross, 24, Gary; Derrion Wisdom Scruggs, 23, Unknown; Michael Coreal Stubbs, 22, Indianapolis; Demetrius Andre Young, 24, Indianapolis and Jalen Charles Zimmerman, 23, Indianapolis.
According to court documents, from November 2020 and continuing up to April 8, 2022, Keller, Stubbs, Ezell, Michael Day, and Jones conspired to pay straw purchasers to buy illegally guns from at least six Central Indiana federally licensed firearms dealers on their behalf.
Officials stated this form of gun trafficking is frequently referred to as “straw purchasing.” Straw purchasing occurs when a person who is allowed to legally purchase a gun from a federally licensed dealer falsely states they are purchasing a firearm for themselves, when they know that the gun is actually intended for someone else.
Keller, Stubbs, Ezell, Michael Day, and Jones paid Redman, Scruggs, Bell, Morst, Ross, Zimmerman, Michaela Day, Eans, Crenshaw, and Young to make straw purchases from federally licensed gun dealers. Keller, Stubbs, Ezell, Michael Day, and Jones then transported the illegally purchased guns to resell them elsewhere.
If convicted, each defendant charged faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
The arrests came after a multi-agency investigation that included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department; Lawrence Police Department; and the United States Marshals Service, along with the help of local law enforcement.
Officials from the Greenfield Police Department and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department were credited with making the investigation and recent warrant execution possible.
Greenfield Police Department Deputy Chief Chuck McMichael said the GPD helped keep an eye on Keller after officials discovered that he was involved in the case.
“We assisted with some surveillance and we located him and attempted to make a traffic stop on him, but he took off so we pursued him into the east side of Indianapolis and caught him,” McMichael said.
Keller was arrested around 10:50 p.m. April 17. He’s also facing local charges in Hancock County Superior Court 2. According to court records, he’s been charged with a Level 6 felony count of possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony count of resisting law enforcement and a Class B Misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana from the local arrest April 17.
As for the federal charges, Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, thanked Assistant United States Attorney Pamela Domash, who is prosecuting this case.
This case was brought as part of the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force (ICGTF). The ICGTF is a partnership of law enforcement officers and analysts from several central Indiana law enforcement agencies in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson and Shelby counties.
In cooperation with state, local, and federal partners, ICGTF collaborates to address violent crime through a comprehensive strategy including innovative approaches to locating suspects and evidence related to violent crimes and illegal possession of firearms.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
