Indianapolis Man Sentenced For Role In Multi-State Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

NORFOLK, Va. – John Nathan Fitzgerald, 36, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced today to 360 months in prison, followed by 120 months of supervised release, for his role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy.
Dana J. Boente, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division; and Royce E. Curtin, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen.

Fitzgerald pleaded guilty on August 8, 2013.  According to court documents, since approximately 2006, Fitzgerald was a member of a large-scale cocaine distribution conspiracy with a far-reaching distribution network that spanned from Virginia to New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Arizona, and other locations.  The group concealed the cocaine for distribution and the proceeds from the sale of the drugs by secreting both inside the lining of coolers and inert, hollowed-out fire extinguishers to avoid detection during transportation.  Fitzgerald ran the Indianapolis, Indiana hub of the organization, where he maintained a stash house for the group to store, re-package, and deliver the cocaine, as well as recruited others to assist in the distribution of cocaine.  He was held responsible today for his role in the distribution of over 130 kilograms of cocaine. 
To date, other defendants that have been convicted and sentenced include:

• Luis Alberto Navarro – Sentenced December 13, 2013 to 360 months;
• Omar A. Martinez - Sentenced June 4, 2013 to 292 months;
• Adrian Demar Blunt - Sentenced February 12, 2013 to 240 months; and
• Mario A. Ruiz - Sentenced September 30, 2013 to 60 months.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, “Fire and Ice.”  Assistant United States Attorneys V. Kathleen Dougherty and Kevin M. Comstock prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.