Indianapolis man sentenced to prison for marketing drugs and guns on social media
Indianapolis, Indiana – An individual from Indianapolis, currently serving probation, has been committed to federal prison due to advertising firearms and illicit substances for sale via his Instagram page, reports the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
William Johnson, a 21-year-old resident of Indianapolis, has received a sentence of precisely 105 months in a federal institution following a guilty plea to charges of intent to distribute fentanyl and illegal possession of a firearm.
“The days of drug deals solely occurring on street corners are long gone. Today, fentanyl traffickers like this defendant can use social media to push illegal guns and poison into our community,” stated U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers.
Officials executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence on September 30, 2022. The search yielded 100 blue fentanyl pills, 112 grams of marijuana, several thousand dollars, a Glock firearm, a Glock gun box housing magazines, an additional handgun, and other illegal substances.
Johnson’s right to possess a firearm is forfeit owing to previous felony convictions. Specifically, Johnson has four previous felony convictions, all of which involve the unlawful possession of firearms.
“Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Hoosiers aged 18-45, and gun violence is the leading killer of American children and teens. The federal prison sentence imposed today should send a stark warning to anyone who believes that social media is a safe space to commit crimes: we are watching, we will find you, and we will hold you accountable,” Myers emphasized.
