Drugs found with fake IDs during bust of IU student

IU student Nicholas Richardson, 21, faces felony charges of forgery after being arrested Wednesday on suspicion of producing fake IDs.\nA search of his Smallwood apartment at 455 N. College Ave, also uncovered “three bags of white powder, suspected to be cocaine,” excise officer Travis Thickstun said. Marijuana, two electronic scales and drug paraphernalia were also seized.\nDespite additional drug-related charges, Richardson has the possibility of facing federal charges involving the filing of his taxes.\nThe situation warrants federal attention if the money earned from selling illegal materials was not reported to the Internal Revenue Service.\nWhile Thickstun could not \ndivulge specific information because the case is still being investigated, he said several agencies have been contacted, and tax-related charges are possible against the entrepreneurship major.\n“Anytime anyone is earning money and not paying taxes on it period, it’s definitely a problem,” Thickstun said. “If it’s something illegal and they’re making money on it and not paying taxes, it’s especially a problem, whether it’s gambling or fake IDs or drugs.”\nWhile IUPD Detective Dave Hannum said campus police do not carry out such investigations, mainly due to a lack of resources, it is a common practice.\n“Especially if you get someone selling large amounts of marijuana,” Hannum said, “the best way to hurt them is financially.”