TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A Texas man who prosecutors call a Career Offender has been sentenced to 30 years in prison following his conviction for numerous drug trafficking charges.
According to a release from the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Indiana, Elvis Medrano, 43, of Pharr, Texas, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA. Pharr was also convicted of possession of ammunition while being a felon following a four-day trial in May of 2022.
According to court documents, from the spring of 2020 through his arrest on Aug. 3, 2020, Medrano conspired with his co-conspirators to sell meth, cocaine, and MDMA throughout Southern Indiana, with a heavy focus on Sullivan and Knox counties.
Medrano obtained the illegal drugs from various sources in California, Missouri, and Illinois. The drugs were shipped to several different addresses through the U.S. Mail, by parcel delivery, or to two vacant P.O. Boxes, which Medrano had fraudulently obtained with the help of a corrupt U.S. Postal Service employee.
News release
On July 7, 2020, Medrano reportedly led police on a pursuit through downtown Washington after fleeing from the Budget Inn. The pursuit was eventually called off due to the extreme risk posed to residents as Medrano reportedly disregarded stop signs and traffic barriers in his attempt to escape arrest.
During that chase Medrano tossed a 9mm loaded magazine from his vehicle, it was later found by a concerned citizen and examined by police.
Prior to the July 7 high-speed police chase, on June 1, 2020, police were attempting to locate Medrano who was wanted on an out-of-state warrant. Medrano fled from the Indiana State Police, leading them in another high-speed chase involving numerous officers and civilians through nearly the entirety of Sullivan County. Medrano cut through a field, disregarded traffic laws, and ran a local farmer off the road.
News release
Medrano was finally arrested on Aug. 3, 2020, when officers were forced to deploy tear gas to get Medrano to leave a residence they had surrounded.
Numerous agencies participated in the investigation including the DEA, US Postal Inspection Service, ISP, Washington Police, and the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office.
As part of the sentence, a US District Judge ordered that Medrano be supervised by the US Probation Office for 10 years following his release from prison.
