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Leader of Indianapolis drug trafficking organization receives 10 years in prison

INDIANAPOLIS – The leader of a drug trafficking organization that operated from Mexico to Chicago and Indianapolis was sentenced Tuesday to 121 months in federal prison.

This sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by the following agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation Division, and the Indianapolis Metro Drug Task Force.

Agustin Lozano, 35, a Mexican national, was sentenced Nov. 6 by U.S. District Court Judge William T. Lawrence, Southern District of Indiana, after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering. After he completes his prison sentence, Lozano will be turned over to ICE and placed in removal proceedings.

In July 2010, an undercover officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department purchased three grams of cocaine for $150 on Indianapolis' west side. Eight months later, due to methodical and patient work by federal and local law enforcement agencies, the original undercover buy culminated Dec. 15, 2010 with seizing and confiscating 48 kilograms (109 pounds) of cocaine valued at $1.5 million, and 4.4 pounds of methamphetamine valued at about $80,000. The history of this organization revealed that it had distributed up to five pounds of methamphetamine and 10 kilograms of cocaine to the Indianapolis area alone on a monthly basis.

U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Hogsett for the Southern District of Indiana said, "This sentence is an example of proactive and cooperative anti-drug police work at its finest. A drug bust of this significance occurs only once every couple of years. Let the message be heard loud and clear to all those who seek mayhem by trafficking in illegal narcotics – you will be identified, you will be investigated and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. "

Lozano acquired large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from his sources and then distributed the drugs to mid-level distributors in Indianapolis.

A 2000 Dodge Dakota pick-up truck and 2008 Dodge Charger that were purchased with the drug trafficking proceeds were seized. Also seized in the operation were 184 pounds of marijuana, 18 firearms, and more than $69,500.

First Assistant U. S. Attorney Josh J. Minkler, Southern District of Indiana, prosecuted the case.