INDIANAPOLIS–Pharmacy robberies have gone down drastically in the past three years. That may be thanks to a decision to prosecute people who rob pharmacies in the state in federal court and to send them to federal prison.

“Every defendant that commits a crime of pharmacy robbery in the Southern District of Indiana, will be charged in federal court and will face the hammer of federal sentencing,” said Josh Minkler, U.S. attorney, describing a decision that was made three years ago, with help from the Indianapolis Metro Police Dept. and Marion County authorities.

“Indiana led the nation in pharmacy robberies, most of those robberies occurring here in Marion County.”

But, not any more. Minkler described the stats, beginning in 2015.

“In 2015, there were 168 pharmacy robberies in Indiana, 129 of those occurring in Marion County. In 2016, there were 78 pharmacy robberies in the State of Indiana, 42 of those occurring in Marion County. Thus far in 2017, there have been only 10 pharmacy robberies in the State of Indiana, only five of those occurring in Marion County.”

Minkler talked about the stats during a news conference this week where he announced the indictment of a gang called “The Mob” that his office said robbed pharmacies, sold the prescription pills and used young people to do the dirty work.

They also used social media to intimidate neighbors.

Minkler said his office has been working with law enforcement throughout Indiana to round up the robbers.

“The name of this operation was ‘Operation: Pharm Aid’.” He said over the past two years they have arrested and prosecuted 36 people for 62 pharmacy robberies.

Robbing a pharmacy when controlled substances are involved has been a FEDERAL CRIME – the same as robbing a bank… since the mid-early 70’s and it took INDIANA  abt FORTY YEARS  to figure out that maybe they should use this federal laws..

No mention of the increased illegal Fentanyl analogs & Heroin on the street and opiate OD’s in Indiana and the 200+ people that were diagnosed with HIV+,Hep B&C in the small Scott county a couple of years ago because Indiana has been reluctant to create a “clean needle program”…

While the Legislature passed laws that it is damn near impossible to purchase Sudafed .. which they claim has reduced the number of Meth labs in the state… but.. don’t mention the amount of Meth that is sold on the street.. since 80% of the Meth sold in the USA is produced in Mexico.

The “picture” that these bureaucrats are putting forth is like a puzzle with a lot of pieces of the puzzle missing… so that no one can see the entire picture CLEARLY !!!