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Press Release

Four Months of Operation Take Back America Yield 23 Felons Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Firearms

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Indiana

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 CONVICTIONS
Dennis 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 x2
Travis Brown, 20, Indianapolis3 years, 5 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseArmed robbery
Kyle Castner, 24, Indianapolis

5 years’ imprisonment

3 years of supervised release

Attempted armed robbery; Armed robbery; Burglary; Escape
Michael Durant, 44, Indianapolis9 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseDealing in cocaine; Possession of a narcotic drug; Dealing in a narcotic drug
Joshua Eldridge, 42, Indianapolis3.5 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releasePossession of methamphetamine; Robbery; Unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon
Jeffery Hill, 48, Indianapolis3 years, 2 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseAggravated battery
Jamar Johnson, 22, Indianapolis8 years, 1 month imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseRobbery
Steven Lane, 46, Anderson8 years, 4 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseDealing in methamphetamine x2; Burglary resulting in bodily injury; Burglary
Marcos 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 methamphetamine
Dayquion Marlin, 27, Indianapolis3 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseArmed robbery; Auto theft; Carrying a handgun without a license
Kishawn Morris, 23, Indianapolis3.5 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseArmed robbery and resisting law enforcement
Andy Manuel Seda-Colon, 28, Indianapolis2 years, 9 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseInvasion of privacy & domestic battery
Kylan Oliver, 29, Indianapolis3 years, 10 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseBurglary; Unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Robert 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 property
Cody Brodrick Schmitt, 34, Mt. Vernon11 years, 5 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseRobbery & dealing in methamphetamine
Edward Cortez Sharp, 45, Evansville8 years, 4 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseDealing in methamphetamine (2 counts) & forgery
David Sneed, 31, Indianapolis3 years, 1 month’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseArmed robbery & felon in possession of ammunition
Daron Torrence, 46, Indianapolis3 years, 10 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseDealing in methamphetamine; Dealing in cocaine; Possession of a narcotic drug
Jason 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 pretenses
Jeffery Ware, 39, Indianapolis5 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseDealing in cocaine & dealing in marijuana
Tyron Whitson Jr., 30, Indianapolis7 years’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseDealing in a narcotic drug and attempted robbery
Ernest 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 substance
Sean Wright, 29, Indianapolis3 years, 4 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised releaseFelon in possession of ammunition; Battery by means of a deadly weapon; Dealing methamphetamine

According 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 magazine
  • Glock 32 GEN4 semiautomatic pistol 
  • Glock 47
  • Glock 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 Magnum
  • Springfield XD40 .40 semiautomatic handgun 
  • Taurus .38 Special revolver 
  • Taurus G2C 9mm 
  • Taurus The Judge revolver 
  • Taurus Ultra‑Lite .38 Special revolver 
  • Western Long‑Range shotgun
  • Zastava semiautomatic pistol

The following agencies investigated or assisted in investigating these cases: 

  • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation- Indianapolis
  • U.S. Marshals Service
  • U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force
  • Great Lakes Task Force 
  • Indiana State Police
  • Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
  • Hancock County Sheriff’s Office
  • Posey County Sheriff’s Office
  • Beech Grove Police Department
  • Evansville Police Department
  • Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
  • New Albany Police Department
  • Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department

U.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.

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Updated July 9, 2026
Topics
Operation Take Back America
Firearms Offenses
Components
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
USAO - Indiana, Southern