TERRE HAUTE —
Two Indianapolis men have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking operation that was responsible for distributing large amounts of methamphetamine in the Terre Haute area, Joseph H. Hogsett, United States Attorney, said in a news release.
Constantino Cejas, 47 also known as “The Don,” was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison. Nicholas Ceja, 40, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson handed down the sentencings.
An indictment returned in April 2011 charged 13 persons with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Among the 13 were defendants from Terre Haute, Indianapolis, Mishawaka, Crown Point and Brazil. Cejas and Ceja were the final two defendants to face trial in this matter; the other 11 co-conspirators have already been convicted.
In 2010, information was obtained that a group was actively distributing large amounts of “crystal” methamphetamine in Terre Haute. Law enforcement launched “Operation Octane” to target and dismantle the drug trafficking organization. The lengthy investigation included the confiscation of more than $100,000 worth of methamphetamine. Police also seized firearms and pipebombs.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Matthias D. Onderak, who prosecuted the case for the government, Cejas and Ceja will serve a terms of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms. Under federal law, defendants must serve a minimum of 85 percent of their prison terms inside of a federal correctional facility.
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Two Indy men sentenced for role in Valley drug ring
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