INDIANAPOLIS- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana has secured prison sentences for 23 convicted felons who illegally possessed firearms, removing 37 unlawfully held guns and four extended magazines from the streets of Indianapolis and Evansville. Each defendant pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Additionally, Andy Manuel Seda-Colon was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a domestic batterer.

Each prosecution stemmed from a separate investigation and was individually resolved between March and June of 2026. DEFENDANTSENTENCEPRIOR CONVICTIONSDennis Birts. 29, Indianapolis7 years, 5 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseCriminal recklessness; Receiving stolen property; Unlawful possession of a firearm; Carrying a handgun without a license; Unlawful carrying of a handgun x2Travis Brown, 20, Indianapolis3 years, 5 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseArmed robberyKyle Castner, 24, Indianapolis5 years’ imprisonment3 years of supervised releaseAttempted armed robbery; Armed robbery; Burglary; EscapeMichael Durant, 44, Indianapolis9 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseDealing in cocaine; Possession of a narcotic drug; Dealing in a narcotic drugJoshua Eldridge, 42, Indianapolis3.5 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releasePossession of methamphetamine; Robbery; Unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felonJeffery Hill, 48, Indianapolis3 years, 2 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseAggravated batteryJamar Johnson, 22, Indianapolis8 years, 1 month imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseRobberySteven Lane, 46, Anderson8 years, 4 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseDealing in methamphetamine x2; Burglary resulting in bodily injury; BurglaryMarcos Guillermo Leon Murrieta, 26, Muncie3 years, 2 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamineDayquion Marlin, 27, Indianapolis3 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseArmed robbery; Auto theft; Carrying a handgun without a licenseKishawn Morris, 23, Indianapolis3.5 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseArmed robbery and resisting law enforcementAndy Manuel Seda-Colon, 28, Indianapolis2 years, 9 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseInvasion of privacy & domestic batteryKylan Oliver, 29, Indianapolis3 years, 10 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseBurglary; Unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felonRobert Reed, 51, Indianapolis4.5 years’ imprisonment; 2 years of supervised releaseConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin; Kidnapping; Possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug; Theft; Receiving stolen propertyCody Brodrick Schmitt, 34, Mt. Vernon11 years, 5 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseRobbery & dealing in methamphetamineEdward Cortez Sharp, 45, Evansville8 years, 4 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseDealing in methamphetamine (2 counts) & forgeryDavid Sneed, 31, Indianapolis3 years, 1 month’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseArmed robbery & felon in possession of ammunitionDaron Torrence, 46, Indianapolis3 years, 10 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseDealing in methamphetamine; Dealing in cocaine; Possession of a narcotic drugJason Vredenburg, 39, Indianapolis3 years, 4 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseIndecent liberties with a child; Possession of a weapon by a prisoner; Possession of a firearm by a felon; Obtaining property by false pretensesJeffery Ware, 39, Indianapolis5 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseDealing in cocaine & dealing in marijuanaTyron Whitson Jr., 30, Indianapolis7 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseDealing in a narcotic drug and attempted robberyErnest Williamson Jr., 34, Louisville 10 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseFelon in possession of a handgun; Trafficking a controlled substance; Complicity to trafficking a controlled substanceSean Wright, 29, Indianapolis3 years, 4 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseFelon in possession of ammunition; Battery by means of a deadly weapon; Dealing methamphetamineAccording to federal law, individuals with prior felony convictions are prohibited from legally possessing a firearm. As part of these investigations, the following firearms were seized and forfeited by law enforcement:Accu-Tek .380 semiautomatic handgun Anderson AR‑15 rifle Davis Industries .380 caliber handgun Diamondback Arms 8mm handgun Gem pistol Glock .45 handgun Glock 17 handgun Glock 19 9mm handgun (x2) Glock 21 .45 semiautomatic pistol Glock 22 handgun Glock 22 .40 semiautomatic w/ extended magazine Glock 27 handgun w/ extended magazine Glock 32 handgun w/ extended magazineGlock 32 GEN4 semiautomatic pistol Glock 47Glock semiautomatic pistol (unspecified) (x2)Hi‑Point 9mm pistol Hi‑Point C9 pistol Hi‑Point JHP .45 semiautomatic pistol Maverick Arms 88 shotgun Molot VEPR shotgun Mossberg 500 shotgun Regent pistol Rough Rider revolver SCCY handgun w/ extended magazine Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun (stolen) Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol Smith & Wesson .357 MagnumSpringfield XD40 .40 semiautomatic handgun Taurus .38 Special revolver Taurus G2C 9mm Taurus The Judge revolver Taurus Ultra‑Lite .38 Special revolver Western Long‑Range shotgunZastava semiautomatic pistolThe following agencies investigated or assisted in investigating these cases: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and ExplosivesFederal Bureau of Investigation- IndianapolisU.S.

Marshals ServiceU.S. Marshals Fugitive Task ForceGreat Lakes Task Force Indiana State PoliceHamilton County Sheriff’s OfficeHancock County Sheriff’s OfficePosey County Sheriff’s OfficeBeech Grove Police DepartmentEvansville Police DepartmentIndianapolis Metropolitan Police DepartmentNew Albany Police DepartmentWhitestown Metropolitan Police DepartmentU.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barry Glickman, Kelsey Massa, Nate Walter, Jayson McGrath, Jeremy Kemper, Matt Barloh, Michelle Brady, Zachary Yauger, Pamela Domash, Peter Blackett, Patrick Gibson, and Todd Shellenbarger who prosecuted these cases.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).The prosecution of Andy Manuel Seda-Colon was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.###