Staff Report
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
An investigation by the Vigo County Drug Task Force has been credited in the indictment of three people accused of trafficking illegal drugs in the Terre Haute area.
Joseph Hogsett, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, commended task force members Detective Denzil Lewis and Capt. Carl Green of the Terre Haute Police Department for a collaborative effort with federal, state and local law enforcement. He made the comments during a news conference Thursday morning in at the federal courthouse in Terre Haute.
Randy “Saw Dog” Sawyer, 42, of Putnam County, and Patricia Walters, 32, of Terre Haute, were both indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in the Terre Haute area from June 2011 through early 2012. Both also face charges of distributing methamphetamine, plus Sawyer faces two counts of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, which is a violation of federal law.
In a separate indictment, Choise Tools, 37, of Chicago, was charged with two counts of distributing cocaine in the Terre Haute area, and charges of possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana. Tools was allegedly trafficking drugs between the Chicago area and the Wabash Valley throughout this year.
“Drugs such as methametamine and cocaine do nothing but fuel a cycle of violence and tragedy in this community,” Hogsett said. “Together with our local partners at the Vigo County Drug Task Force, we are ensuring that every law enforcement tool available is being used to combat the scourge of illegal drugs and protect the Wabash Valley.”
Both Sawyer and Walters have extensive criminal histories that could result in life sentences if they are convicted, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthias D. Onderak, who is prosecuting both defendants.
Tools faces up to 40 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Blackington, who is prosecuting that case.
Initial hearings for all defendants are planned in Terre Haute.
