19 indicted as part of Terre Haute meth ring

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Nineteen people were charged Thursday with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine after a massive drug bust in Terre Haute.

Federal agents seized over 200 pounds of marijuana, more than $100,000 cash and 1 1/2 pounds of methamphetamine.

In a stunning turn, authorities say the drug ring was run by a man already in prison.

Police say 39-year-old Wesley Hammond ran the operation with a smuggled cell phone out of his prison cell at the New Castle Indiana Correctional Institution.

"If there's one place where you should not be able to run a drug trafficking operation in the United States, it's within a prison," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Blackintgon. "To me, this is absolutely appalling."

Authorities say Hammond's girlfriend, Jennifer Poltrock, 28, managed operations out of her home on South 14th Street in Terre Haute.

According to police, this group took over meth distribution in the Wabash Valley after the Welker-Shaw drug bust in 2008.

"Everytime we take down a criminal organization, there's just no lack of individuals who want to step up and fill that void," Denzil Lewis of the Vigo County Drug Task Force said.

A violent group, most of the 19 had criminal histories ranging from dealing cocaine and dealing meth to battery and criminal recklessness resulting in serious injury.

Now all 19 face a minimum 10 years to life in prison.

Those with prior drug convictions face a minimum 20 years.

Authorities say they expect more arrests tied to this ring in the future.

These 19 are due in federal court Monday for their initial hearing.

**All mug shots used are from previous arrests.**

The following law enforcement agencies assisted in these arrests:

Evansville office of the Drug Enforcement Administration
Vigo County Drug Task Force
Vigo County Prosecutor's Office
Indiana State Police
Vincennes Police Department.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms
Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Marshall's Service
Clay County Sheriff's Department
Other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies

The following were arrested as part of the alleged methamphetamine trafficking ring:

Wesley S. Hammond, 39, New Castle (Indiana) Correctional Institution
Jennifer L. Poltrock, 28, Terre Haute, Indiana
Dustin M. McCombs, 22, Terre Haute, Indiana
David J. Pitts, 39, Terre Haute, Indiana
Bradley S. Shelton, 34, Terre Haute, Indiana
Antrio D. Hammond, 31, Indianapolis, Indiana
Jwuan Moreland, 35, Terre Haute, Indiana
Rae Anna Johnson, 65, Terre Haute, Indiana
Keith C. Pitts, 19, Terre Haute, Indiana
John Mikolajczyk, 41, Terre Haute, Indiana
Jeffrey L. Denny, 34, Terre Haute, Indiana
Megan E. Samuels, 21, Terre Haute, Indiana
Michael E. Adkins, 26, Terre Haute, Indiana
Herbert D. Phipps, 53, Terre Haute, Indiana
Ahmad Hadi, 50, Terre Haute, Indiana
Dennis D. Plummer, 36, Terre Haute, Indiana
Melissa Van Ness, 36, Terre Haute, Indiana
Timothy Bailey, 48, Terre Haute, Indiana
Susie Annette Smith, Terre Haute, Indiana

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