Evansville Felon Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine, Illegally Possessing Multiple Guns and Body Armor

EVANSVILLE- Deariel Simmons, 29, of Evansville, Indiana was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, on July 15, 2020, officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Postal Service (USPIS) opened an investigation into Simmons after intercepting a package sent from California that contained two kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside of a paint can. The package was delivered to an Evansville address where Simmons was observed picking it up and leaving in his Ford Fusion.

When Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s deputies initiated a traffic stop of Simmons, he fled the scene and led deputies on a vehicle pursuit. Simmons eventually threw the package out the window of his vehicle, then jumped out and fled on foot. After a brief foot chase, deputies lost track of Simmons when he jumped over a six-foot fence and ran toward civilians. Dash cam footage showed Simmons later returning to his truck and leaving the scene. Simmons escaped but was later located and arrested.

On October 8, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Simmons’ residence. Officers seized five digital scales, a plastic bag containing 17.6 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, an electronic money counter, a body armor vest, four loaded firearms, and ammunition.

Simmons is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous felony robbery conviction in Vanderburgh County. 

“This defendant was a tremendous danger to our community: trafficking meth, fleeing from police, and illegally equipping himself with loaded guns and body armor,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “His prior felony convictions make these crimes all the more egregious. The serious federal prison sentence imposed today shows that the U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our partners at the USPIS, DEA, and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, will not tolerate armed methamphetamine traffickers in our neighborhoods.”

“This successful partnership between the US Postal Inspection Service, the DEA, and local law enforcement should serve as a warning to anyone dealing in these dangerous and illegal substances that the Postal Inspection Service and our partners are unwavering in our mission to identify and disrupt their illegal activity,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector-in-Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Detroit Division.

DEA and USPIS investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Vanderburgh County Joint Task Force and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Simmons be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren M. Wheatley, Matthew B. Miller, and Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case.

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