Three indicted on federal drug charges

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Three people face charges of trafficking and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine in the Terre Haute, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

Randy “Saw Dog” Sawyer, 42, of Putnam County and 32-year-old Patricia Walters, 32, of Terre Haute both face charges of conspiring to distribute meth and distributing meth. Sawyer also faces two counts of possessing a firearm as a violent felony. Investigators believe the two distributed meth around Terre Haute starting in June 2011.

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 Onderak, who is prosecuting the two.

On Wednesday, prosecutors indicted another man, 37-year-old Choise Tools of Chicago, charging him with two counts of distributing cocaine in the Terre Haute area. He also faces charges of possessing marijuana and cocaine.

Tools could face up to 40 years in prison and $5 million in fines if convicted, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Blackington.

Authorities said Tool had been trafficking drugs between Chicago and Terre Haute at the time of his arrest.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Hogsett said the charges come after the work of several agencies, in particular the Vigo County Drug Task Force.

“We don’t care whether you’re from Putnam County (or) whether you’re from Chicago, Illinois … if you’re bringing cocaine or methamphetamine or any other illegal narcotic into the Wabash Valley … the Vigo County Drug Task Force is waiting on you,” Hogsett said.