On October 21, 2004 Michael Deferbrache of Elkhart
County, Indiana was sentenced by Judge Terry Shewmaker of the Elkhart
Circuit Court to 50 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections on
charging relating to methamphetamine manufacture. Deferbrache was
arrested on July 17, 2003, following a joint investigation by the
Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Unit, Goshen
Police Department, Elkhart Police Department, Elkhart County Sheriff's
Department and Indiana State Police.
At the
time of his arrest, Deferbrache was found to be in possession of
methamphetamine, a number of items used to manufacture methamphetamine,
a marijuana grow operation, and numerous weapons. Also found at the
site of his meth lab were items commonly associated with law
enforcement including a bulletproof vest, night vision goggles, a
parabolic antenna, and taser, as well as several books and internet
articles relating to methamphetamine manufacture. In a bedroom occupied
by Deferbrache was a newspaper article from 2003 relating to the
formation of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Unit consisting
also of a photograph of Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney Curtis
Hill, Jr. and the department heads of the police agencies in Elkhart
County. The word andquot;whateverandquot; had been written underneath the photograph.

At the sentencing hearing, Deputy Prosecuting
Attorney Denise Robinson presented evidence by Sgt. Jim Buchmann of the
Elkhart Police Department and Detective Chuck Osterday of the Elkhart
County Sheriff's Department as to the size of Deferbrache's
methamphetamine lab and the significance of the items found at the lab.
The officers testified that the lab was not only the largest they had
seen but was also one of the most dangerous. In imposing the 50-year
sentence, Judge Shewmaker commented not only on the size of the lab and
the number of weapons seized, but also noted that the newspaper
clipping and comment written underneath was indicative of the
defendant's contempt for the laws of the State of Indiana and the
efforts of the agencies represented to make Elkhart County a safer
community.
Prosecuting Attorney Curtis Hill, Jr.
reaffirmed an earlier statement made at the time of Deferbrache's
arrest in which he noted that without the joint effort of officers from
the Goshen Police Department, Elkhart Police Department, Elkhart County
Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police and the Elkhart County
Prosecutor's Office, working together towards a common objective, this
investigation could not have been successful. He also stated: andquot;Perhaps
this case will serve as a warning to those individuals who persist in
manufacturing and selling this dangerous drug in our community and who,
while doing so, scoff at our law enforcement agencies and our laws. We
will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute these cases in
the desire to make it clear that in Elkhart County this type of
activity will not be tolerated and that a high price will be paid by
persons apprehended in distributing drugs in our community.andquot;
Deferbrache
has an unrelated Class A Felony drug charge still pending in the
Elkhart Circuit Court committed after he had been released on bond on
this offense. The Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office has indicated its
intent to proceed with the prosecution of that case.