Meth operation run by inmates busted by federal agents

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE/AP) Forty people have been indicted following an investigation and raids by the FBI involving a meth and heroin distribution ring that was allegedly run by inmates inside an Indiana prison that involved the cooperation of Indiana Department of Corrections officers.

Click here to read the entire indictment

The FBI conducted raids across the state Wednesday morning with individuals in Huntington and Steuben counties targeted.

The person of interest in Huntington County was not captured. In Steuben County, they were able to capture Haley Burrell, of Hamilton. In the indictment, she was arrested on three counts of obstruction of justice. The indictment alleges she had informed one of the inmates that an informant was on to him. She was arrested and had an initial hearing Wednesday.

Also included in the indictment, starting in June of 2011 until August of 2012, Oscar Perez and Justin Addler, both inmates in the Indiana Department of Corrections, used cell phones to acquire large amounts of methamphetamine from sources in California.  The two also are accused of acquiring large amounts of heroin from Chicago using the same methods.

The meth was sent to Indiana using the U.S. Postal Service UPS, or by couriers. Corrections officers allegedly smuggled cell phones and controlled substances into the inmates.  The heroin was acquired in a similar fashion from Chicago.

The meth and heroin would then be distributed to various locations in Indiana where it would be sold.

The indictment indicates that at one point, Perez said he was distributing two pounds of meth a week.

LSD and PCP were two other drugs distributed as a part of the conspiracy according to the court documents.

The FBI is still looking for two individuals

The FBI is still looking for the following individuals:

• Jermaine Coleman, black male, 35 years old
• John Smith, white male, 39 years old, 5’9”

Audra Echman, 23, and Kyle Whitlow, 30, were apprehended Wednesday evening.

If you have any information on where any of these four people are, contact the FBI Safe Streets Task Force at (317) 595-4000.

According to the Huntington County Sheriff's Department, it appears the FBI conducted the raids without the help of Huntington city or county officers.