Eastern District of Kentucky

COVINGTON, Ky.  Robert Ramone Poe, 39, a Northern Kentucky man who was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm, was sentenced on Tuesday to 105 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning.           

Poe is a convicted felon and, therefore, prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition. 

In March 2019, Poe was arrested by the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force after a search of his Covington residence uncovered a 9 millimeter handgun in his bedroom, along with cocaine. Poe pleaded guilty to the charge in July 2019. 

Under federal law, Poe must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for three years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Tommy Estevan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted jointly by the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force and ATF.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer K. Weinhold

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Marcos Salas Mendoza, 30, was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and acetylfentanyl, and to launder drug proceeds.

The investigation into Salas’ criminal activities began in 2018 and was jointly conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lexington Division of Police. As part of the overall scheme to distribute drugs and to launder money, Salas, co-defendant Marcos Gonzalez Garfias, and others routinely smuggled drugs and drug proceeds in the axles of vehicles to avoid detection by law enforcement. Gonzalez Garfias previously pleaded guilty to the same offenses and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 1.

According to court documents, when agents executed a search warrant at Salas’s “stash house” in Lexington, they found multiple disassembled axles. The agents found large quantities of controlled substances concealed within those automotive parts and concealed within numerous appliances, such as the dishwasher, microwave oven, stove and refrigerator. Overall, agents located a total of over 3 kilograms of fentanyl nearly 1 kilogram of acetylfentanyl, and nearly 10 kilograms of cocaine from the search of the residence and a storage unit. Agents also located $134,000 in drug proceeds at the stash house.

A total of approximately $257,000 in drug proceeds was seized and forfeited as a result of the investigation. Salas admitted in his plea agreement that the drug proceeds were destined for Mexico to members of the larger drug trafficking organization to promote their drug-trafficking activities.

“Fentanyl is potentially lethal at very low levels – a dose as small as 2 milligrams can be deadly. The defendant is responsible for conspiring to distribute nearly 6 pounds of fentanyl and over a pound of acetylfentanyl- enough to kill well over one million people,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr. “I commend the cooperative efforts of the Lexington Police Department and DEA in this investigation.  Removing these large quantities of deadly drugs from the community undoubtedly saved lives. The lengthy sentence imposed by the Court reflects the dangerousness of the defendant’s conduct and should serve as a warning to others involved in similar drug trafficking activities.”            

Robert M. Duncan Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Daniel Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of Police, Lexington Division of Police, jointly announced the indictment. Assistant United States Attorney Todd Bradbury prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

– END –

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Leonard Glover, 32, of Frankfort, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday, before U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to distribution of more than 10 grams of acetylfentanyl, a fentanyl analogue.            

As part of his guilty plea, Glover admitted that, on June 11, he sold 13 grams of acetylfentanyl to a confidential informant for $900. He was indicted in May 2019.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; D. Dan Dodds, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA; and Charles Adams, Chief of the Frankfort Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Frankfort Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kiebler. 

Glover is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 23, 2020 in Frankfort, Kentucky. He faces up to 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5 million. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), a Department of Justice initiative designed to target trafficking of dangerous synthetic opioids.

 

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Anthony McIntosh, 28, of Detroit, was sentenced Friday to 27 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.           

In June 2018, Lexington Police officers apprehended McIntosh and located 21 grams of fentanyl in his vehicle. In his plea agreement, McIntosh admitted that he intended to sell the fentanyl to others.           

Under federal law, McIntosh must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. After his sentence, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years following his release and will have to pay a $3,600 fine.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; D. Dan Dodds, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA; and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of the Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kiebler.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), a Department of Justice initiative designed to target trafficking of dangerous synthetic opioids.

— END—

LEXINGTON, Ky.— Roberto Bernal Salas, 32, pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing and intending to distribute three kilograms of cocaine and 122 gram of crack cocaine.

In his guilty plea, Salas admitted that he possessed and intended to sell over three kilograms of cocaine and over 122 grams of crack cocaine found by law enforcement in Salas’s home in Lexington. Salas also admitted that the amount of $33,000 seized from his home represented proceeds from the sale of a kilogram of cocaine. Salas was indicted by a grand jury in July 2019.

Robert M. Duncan Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, James Robert Brown Jr., Special Agent in Charge FBI Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly made the announcement today after Salas entered his guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by FBI and Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant United States Attorney Roger W. West.

Salas is currently scheduled to appear for sentencing before United States District Court Judge Karen K. Caldwell in Lexington on Jan. 9, 2020, at 10:30 a.m.

Salas faces a maximum prison sentence of not less than 5 years but not more than 40 years. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Chris D. Lewis, 49, of Lexington, was sentenced Thursday to 60 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Karen K. Caldwell, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.       

According to his plea agreement, in December 2018, Lexington Police officers apprehended Lewis and located 58 grams of fentanyl and 13 grams of methamphetamine in his coat pocket. Lewis further admitted that he intended to distribute the fentanyl to other persons.           

Under federal law, Lewis must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years following his release.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; D. Dan Dodds, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA; and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of the Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kiebler.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), a Department of Justice initiative designed to target trafficking of dangerous synthetic opioids.

 

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Jeffery L. Barnett, 49, of Winchester was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for the possession with the intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  

According to the plea agreement, a federal search warrant was executed at Barnett’s residence in Winchester, on March 11, 2019.  ATF agents and KSP detectives located over 100 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mix that was meant for sale and seized over $2,000 in drug proceeds.  A subsequent search was executed at a nearby storage unit leased by Barnett, and 19 stolen firearms were discovered.  Barnett has five prior felony drug trafficking convictions and qualified as a “Career Offender” under federal law.

“The defendant’s criminal history, the type and quantity of drug he intended to distribute, and the numerous firearms he illegally possessed, directly led to his lengthy sentence,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “I commend the cooperation and dedicated work of ATF and KSP in building the investigation that led to this prosecution and conviction.”      

Barnett previously pleaded guilty on June 10.

“Repeat violent offenders are a threat to the safety and security of our communities,” stated ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Tommy Estevan of the Louisville Field Division. “All too often, drug dealers use guns to further their violent criminal activities. Today’s sentence reflects ATF’s ongoing commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone.”

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Tommy Estevan, Acting Special Agent in Charge for ATF; and Richard W. Sanders, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly made the announcement.

The investigation was conducted by the ATF and the Kentucky State Police. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger W. West. 

— END —

LAUREL, Ky. - Dylan Brewer, 23, of Harlan County, pleaded guilty Monday to possession with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward B. Atkins. 

 According to the plea agreement, law enforcement stopped Brewer’s vehicle in Bell County, Kentucky, on July 13, and found two kilograms of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm hidden in a speaker box in the back seat. During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Brewer had been obtaining methamphetamine in Georgia and traveling to Harlan County to distribute it. 

“Reducing the availability of dangerous drugs and protecting the public are two of our most important priorities,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Prosecuting armed methamphetamine traffickers, like the defendant, satisfies both. This prosecution, and others like it, reinforce a simple message:  dealing meth with a gun will likely result in a long stay in a federal prison.” 

U.S. Attorney Duncan; Dan Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Louisville Field Division; Richard Sanders, Commissioner of Kentucky State Police; Kyle Dunn, Pineville Police Chief; Mitch Williams, Bell County Sheriff; and Mike Smith, Knox County Sheriff, jointly announced the guilty plea. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew H. Trimble. 

Brewer’s sentencing hearing has not yet been set. He faces a minimum of 15 years in prison, with a maximum of life, and a maximum fine of $20 million. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. 

— END —

 

LEXINGTON, KY- A Lexington, Kentucky, woman, who previously admitted to sending false information concerning explosives threatening the University of Kentucky campus was sentenced Tuesday to 6 months in prison.

U.S. District Court Judge Danny Reeves sentenced 20-year-old, Haily Loriane Duvall for communicating false threats regarding explosives.           

Duvall previously admitted of using Snapchat to communicate threats to the University of Kentucky community on November 7 and 8 of 2018. According to the plea agreement, Duvall created a second account and used it to further disseminate the created threats. Duvall also informed other University of Kentucky students about the Snapchat communications, contacted the University of Kentucky Police Department and reported the threats, and also made contact with a local news reporter to attempt to publicize the alleged threat. After being confronted by law enforcement, Duvall admitted to being responsible for the threats and that the threats would be seen as a serious expression of intent to commit harm to University of Kentucky students and faculty.

Duvall pleaded guilty on June 24. Under federal law, Duvall must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years, which includes 6 months at home incarceration. Duvall must also pay a $1,800 fine.   

“Using the internet to make threatening communications, even if those threats are a hoax, is a serious criminal offense. The defendant’s actions were not harmless. She caused law enforcement to needlessly respond to her hoax, potentially taking them away from real emergencies, and substantially disrupted activities at the University of Kentucky and the campus area,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “Prosecution of these hoax cases should serve notice that this conduct is unacceptable, and hopefully, it will deter others from engaging in similar behavior.”    

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge James Robert Brown, Jr. of the FBI’s Louisville, Kentucky Field Division, and Joe Monroe, Chief of the University of Kentucky Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the University of Kentucky Police Department and the FBI. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew T. Boone.

— END —

 

LONDON, Ky. – Jason William Graves, 40, of Gray, Ky., pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on Tuesday.

Graves, who was previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2013, acknowledged that he illegally possessed two firearms on June 23, 2019.  Graves faces up to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of federal supervised release, and a fine of not more than $250,000.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, made the announcement today.

Assistant United States Attorney R. Nicholas Rabold is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.  The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Graves' sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday, January 14, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., at the United States District Court in London.

– END –

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Two years ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the department’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. 

            Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

            Throughout the past two years, we have partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   According to FBI’s Uniform Crime Report released this week, the violent crime rate decreased for the second consecutive year, down 3.9 percent from the 2017 numbers.

                “The revitalized Project Safe Neighborhoods program is a major success,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “It packs a powerful punch by combining advanced data with local leadership, further reducing violence in communities across the country and improving overall public safety. U.S. Attorneys continue to focus their enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals and work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal police. The Justice Department’s relationships across the board have never been stronger.”

            “The Project Safe Neighborhoods program is a cornerstone of our violent crime reduction efforts.  Drawing on the strong partnerships among our federal, state, and local law enforcement, we are protecting the public and holding the most violent offenders accountable for their criminal actions,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “We recognize there is still work to be done, and we remain committed to this important public safety initiative.”         

As we celebrate the two-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, here are some of the highlights of our PSN actions across the Eastern District of Kentucky over the past year:

Enforcement Actions

            In January 2018, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies created the Fayette County Violent Crime Task Force.  The Task Force focuses investigative and prosecutorial resources on those individuals responsible for violent crime and significant drug trafficking in this area, particularly those who commit acts of violence while armed with a firearm and those who commit armed drug trafficking. 

                “Working in a collaborative way with stakeholders across our community as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program is producing positive results in Lexington,” Chief Lawrence Weathers said. “Patrol officers are building relationships with residents, detectives are coordinating investigations with other law enforcement agencies, and we are developing solid cases with prosecutors.  The effectiveness of the Project Safe Neighborhoods model cannot be overstated.”

            The Agencies participating in this effort include the ATF, DEA, FBI, Lexington Police Department, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Lexington Community Corrections, the Fayette County Public Schools Law Enforcement Division, the Fayette County Attorney’s Office, the Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office.

            “ATF strives to be ‘no better partner’ to other law enforcement agencies,” stated ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Tommy Estevan of the Louisville Field Division.  “During the past year, ATF and these agencies investigated illegal sources of crime guns and persons who illegally possessed or used guns to commit violent crimes in the Lexington area.  Together, we pursued ‘traffickers and trigger pullers’ with every resource, including new ballistic technology and other crime gun intelligence to disrupt the shooting cycle.  ATF remains committed to the continued success of Project Safe Neighborhoods and this comprehensive approach to public safety.”

      In response to recent shootings and related criminal activity, law enforcement in Fayette County have worked proactively to identify and apprehend those responsible.  Illegally possessing or using a firearm in criminal activity will likely result in a lengthy sentence of imprisonment. 

In the past year, our established partnerships have been an integral factor in our PSN prosecutions. Some examples of these prosecutions include:

• Keith A. Jefferson, 26, of Lexington, who was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Read more.

 

• Gregory Thomopolous, 39, of Lexington, who was an Armed Career Criminal and sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for armed drug trafficking. Read more.

 

• D’Vonta Middlebrooks, 24, of Lexington, who was sentenced to 115 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Read more.

 

Community Partnerships

            In addition to enforcement efforts aimed at removing the most violent offenders from our streets, law enforcement personnel have engaged in community outreach and education.  Working with the City of Lexington’s ONE LEX initiative, PSN participants have attended community safety days, provided information about community resources available, and served as mentors to school children in Fayette County. Read more about the coordinated efforts to reduce violent crime in Lexington.

            “PSN is not only about vigorous prosecution of violent crime, it also about a commitment to crime prevention, problem solving and community partnerships. We recognize the need for more complex solutions that not only seek positive outcomes for victims, but also strive for long-term solutions for defendants, potential defendants, and the community at large,” said Fayette Commonwealth’s Attorney Lou Anna Red Corn.  “It is my hope, that as our community partnerships grow, we will earn and keep the trust of the communities where crime has the greatest impact.”

Improvements to Community Safety

• For the second consecutive year, the estimated number of national violent crimes decreased when compared with the previous year’s statistics, according to FBI figures released today. In 2018, the number of violent crimes was down 3.3 percent from the 2017 number.

 

• The 2018 statistics also show the estimated rate of violent crime was 368.9 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. The violent crime rate fell 3.9 percent when compared with the 2017 rate.

 

• According to statistics released earlier this year by the Lexington Police Department, violent crime in Lexington decreased by 13 percent in 2018, compared to 2017.  This decrease included declines in homicides (down 21 percent), robberies (down 21 percent), aggravated assaults (down 11 percent), and shootings (down 23 percent).  Additionally, shots fired calls decreased by 9 percent.  Preliminary data through July 2019 shows a 9.1 percent decrease in Part I crime as compared to year to date in 2018.            

 

These enforcement actions and partnerships are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

PIKEVILLE, Ky.- A Millstone, Kentucky, man, who previously admitted to distributing cocaine and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, was sentenced Friday to 140 months in federal prison.

U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier sentenced Charles Perry Jr, 56, for distributing cocaine and illegal possession of a firearm. Perry pleaded guilty June 7, 2019.

Under federal law, Perry must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for six years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Tommy Estevan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF Louisville Field Division; and Commissioner Richard Saunders, Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by ATF and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna Reed.

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lavonte Harmon, 33, of Lexington, was sentenced Thursday to 80 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for possession with intent to distribute acetylfentanyl, a fentanyl analogue.  

In December 2018, Lexington Police officer executed a search warrant on Harmon’s vehicle and residence, seizing 13 grams of acetylfentanyl, 17 grams of cocaine, $4,474 cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia. In his plea agreement, Harmon admitted that he intended to distribute the drugs and agreed to forfeit the $4,474.            

Under federal law, Harmon must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release. Harmon will also have to pay a $1,500 fine, imposed by the court.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Daniel D. Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA; and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of the Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kiebler.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), a Department of Justice initiative designed to target trafficking of dangerous synthetic opioids.

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky.— A Lexington man was indicted Thursday for robbing several Lexington businesses.

A federal grand jury in Lexington returned an indictment charging 54-year-old Jackie B. Love with five counts of robbery.           

The indictment alleges that Love robbed five different business around Fayette County on different occasions, from April 19-25, 2019. During these robberies, the indictment alleges Love unlawfully took, or attempted to take, personal property from the store clerk(s) against their will by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury, by taking United States currency from the store when he threatened them with a firearm.  Court documents allege that Love was able to take $1,255 collectively. The Lexington Police arrested Love on April 26, 2019.           

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Tommy Estevan, Acting Special Agent in Charge for ATF Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the indictment.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by ATF and Lexington Police Department. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker.

A date for Love to appear in court has not yet been scheduled. He faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. 

            Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

— END —

 

Lexington, Ky- Five defendants, who previously admitted to conspiring to distribute thousands of oxycodone pills throughout Richmond, Kentucky and surrounding areas, were sentenced this week.  

U.S. District Court Judge Karen Caldwell sentenced, Malik Chapman, Douglas Mayfield, Ryan Jones, Victoria Grimes, and Alyssa Parrish to 84 months, 40 months, 40 months, 18 months, and 18 months respectively. Four other defendants involved in the case, Patsy Wardle, Shannon Allen, Bianca Pennington, and Robert May, were previously sentenced in August to 148 months, 72 months, 41 months, and 40 months, respectively. 

According to plea agreements and trial evidence, Malik Chapman, Shannon Allen, Bianca Pennington, Patsy Wardle, and others, worked together to distribute oxycodone throughout Richmond, Kentucky and surrounding areas. Chapman, assisted by Grimes and Parrish, was responsible for transporting oxycodone pills from Detroit, Michigan to Richmond, Kentucky, where Allen and Pennington would further distribute the pills to local drug dealers, like Wardle, May, Mayfield, and Jones. Wardle also acted a source of supply for Allen at times. 

Under federal law, the defendants must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years.

“The distribution of opioids, such as oxycodone pills, remains a significant issue in central Kentucky, particularly in Madison County,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Our Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold opioid traffickers, like these defendants, accountable for their criminal conduct. I commend the hard work and cooperation of federal, state, and local law enforcement in dismantling a significant, multi-state drug trafficking operation that was responsible for the distribution of thousands of oxycodone pills in Madison County and elsewhere in our region.”           

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Daniel D. Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Commissioner Richard Sanders, Kentucky State Police; Chief James Ebert, Richmond Police Department; Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff’s Department; and Chief David Gregory, Berea Police Department jointly announced the sentences.

The investigation was conducted by DEA, Richmond Police Department, and Appalachian HIDTA Madison County Drug task Force. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Tanner Bradley and Paco Villalobos.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The PSN program was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

— END —

 

LONDON, Ky- Michael Virgil Woodham, 45, of Bessemer, Alabama was sentenced to 109 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Wier for receiving child pornography.

According to Woodham’s plea agreement, he knowingly received a visual depiction from a Pulaski County resident, and the visual was of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The defendant admitted that he knew that the visual depiction was of a minor.

Michael Virgil Woodham pleaded guilty March 8.           

Under federal law, Woodham must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, James Robert Brown, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Louisville Field Division, and Johnnie Sharp, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, FBI Birmingham, Alabama Division, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by FBI. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna Reed.

— END —

LONDON, Ky. - Stephen Ushery, Jr., of Cincinnati, was sentenced Wednesday to 130 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Robert E. Wier, for conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. 

The conviction followed a two and a half year investigation that established Ushery as a drug supplier, who traveled from his home in Cincinnati to distribute multi-ounce quantities of heroin to several other local drug dealers in the Pulaski County area. In his plea agreement, Ushery admitted that between 2015 and 2018, he was responsible for distributing over one kilogram of heroin into the Eastern District of Kentucky. Ushery’s heroin distribution conspiracy ended in September of 2018, when law enforcement arrested him and raided the apartment he was using as his base of drug distribution in Somerset, finding nearly 50 grams of heroin and over $5,000 in drug proceeds.

Several of Ushery’s co-conspirators have also been sentenced in connection with their heroin trafficking activities, including Chad Puchalski (sentenced to 180 months), Sonie Meatchem, Jr. (sentenced to 70 months), Diana Chiree Sullivan (47 months), Samantha Pointer (39 months), Kimberly Ann Sweeten (33 months), and Tyler Hargis (20 months).        

Under federal law, Ushery must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release.           

“Combatting the trafficking of dangerous drugs, particularly heroin, is a fundamental priority for our Office,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “The defendant’s transportation and distribution of significant quantities of heroin adversely impacted the lives of many in the Pulaski County area.  I commend the work of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in helping hold this defendant, and his co-defendants, accountable for their actions.”

 

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Dan Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA; Sheriff Greg Speck, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office; Chief Tony Duncan, Somerset Police Department; Director Wayne Conn, Lake Cumberland Drug Task Force; Commissioner Richard Sanders, Kentucky State Police; and Chief Brian Carter, Mt. Vernon Police Department, collectively announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, the Somerset Police Department, the Kentucky State Police, the Lake Cumberland Drug Task Force, and the Mount Vernon Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew H. Trimble.

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Harvey O. Isaac, 30, of Lexington was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for the distribution of fentanyl that caused the overdose death of another by US District Court Judge Danny C. Reeves.

On April 12, 2017, Isaac and Shannon Hixon, 43, of Detroit, distributed a quantity of fentanyl to an individual identified as K.F., a U.S. Army veteran, who used the fentanyl and died as a result. The Lexington Police Department opened an investigation into the death that ultimately led to charges being placed against Isaac and Hixon. 

Isaac was also sentenced to five years supervised release after his 10 years in prison.

On July 25, 2019, Hixon was found guilty, after a four day jury trial, of the distribution of fentanyl resulting in the overdose death of K.F., as well as conspiring to distribute oxycodone and fentanyl. Hixon is awaiting sentencing on December 6 before Chief Judge Reeves. Hixon faces a minimum of 20 years imprisonment, up to a maximum of life in prison.    

 Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Dan Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department jointly announced Isaac’s sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA and the Lexington Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger W. West and Assistant United States Attorney Todd Bradbury. 

— END —

 

The former treasurer of Jackson County, Kentucky, was sentenced today to 45 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom sentenced Beth N. Sallee, 39, of McKee, Kentucky, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  Sallee was also ordered to pay $161,808.23 in restitution for devising a multi-year scheme to defraud the Jackson County Fiscal Court of over $160,000 and for misusing the identity of a Jackson County employee to facilitate her theft.    

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan of the Eastern District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge James Robert Brown Jr. of the FBI’s Louisville Field Division and Richard Sanders, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, made the announcement.  

Sallee pleaded guilty on Feb. 4, 2019, to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.  As part of her plea, Sallee admitted that beginning in 2013, she misused her position to write a number of checks, totaling approximately $161,808.23, payable to herself without the approval of the Jackson County Fiscal Court.  Sallee proceeded to either deposit these checks into her personal checking account or exchange these checks for cash.  The unauthorized checks drew on various Jackson County Fiscal Court accounts, including the Department of Emergency Services grant, payroll and general fund accounts.

To enable her scheme, Sallee forged the signature of other Jackson County employees on unauthorized checks without their knowledge or permission.  She later attempted to conceal her scheme by removing pages of Jackson County financial documents, obscuring page numbers with Wite-Out and requesting the deletion of check images from bank statements that were to be given to an auditor. 

The FBI and the Kentucky State Police conducted the investigation.  Trial Attorney Jessica C. Harvey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew T. Boone of the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted the case.

 

LONDON, Ky.—The former treasurer of Jackson County, Kentucky, was sentenced today to45 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $161,808.23 in restitution for devising a multi-year scheme to defraud the Jackson County Fiscal Court of over $160,000 and for misusing the identity of a Jackson County employee to facilitate her theft.

Beth N. Sallee, 39, of McKee, Kentucky, was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom. Sallee pleaded guilty on Feb. 4, 2019, to one count of wire fraud and to one count of aggravated identity theft. As part of her plea, Sallee admitted that beginning in 2013, she misused her position to write a number of checks, totaling approximately $161,808.23, payable to herself without the approval of the Jackson County Fiscal Court. Sallee deposited these checks into her own personal checking account or for cash.  The unauthorized checks drew on various Jackson County Fiscal Court accounts, including the Department of Emergency Services grant, payroll, and general fund accounts. 

According to the plea agreement, in order to enable her scheme, Sallee forged the signature of other Jackson County employees on unauthorized checks without their knowledge or permission. She later attempted to conceal her scheme by removing pages of Jackson County financial documents, obscuring page numbers with white-out, and requesting the removal of check images from bank statements that were to be given to an auditor. 

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr., for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Special Agent in Charge James Robert Brown, Jr. of the FBI’s Louisville, Kentucky Field Division and Richard W. Sanders, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, made the announcement.  

“This case presents another example of a selfish and corrupt official, who stole taxpayer money and spent it on herself,” said United States Attorney Duncan. “Disgraceful conduct like this erodes the public’s faith in government institutions and causes lasting damage. Combatting these betrayals of trust is critical, both to holding people accountable and to repairing the public’s faith.  Prosecuting public corruption will remain a fundamental priority for our Office.”       

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky State Police. Trial Attorney Jessica C. Harvey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew T. Boone of the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted the case.                                                    

# # #

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Wayne Russell Fugate, 49, of Lexington was sentenced on Monday, by Chief United States District Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 97 months in federal prison for buying and selling stolen firearms and for being a convicted felon in possession of over 25 stolen firearms.

Beginning in 2017, the eastern Kentucky area, as well as areas in Tennessee and Ohio, experienced a number of vehicle break-ins where firearms were stolen. A law enforcement task force led to the arrest of Dario Adrian Mauriz-Cruz, 27, and Jeremy D. Stidham, 27, as suspects in these break-ins. The investigation determined that Fugate acted as a “fence” for Stidham and Cruz, buying stolen firearms from them.

According to Fugate’s plea agreement, investigators executed a search warrant at his residence in Lexington, in November 2017. There, they located 22 stolen firearms and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition. Further investigation recovered six more stolen firearms purchased by Fugate. Fugate admitted to selling firearms to at least 11 others. Fugate had a prior federal felony conviction for being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of firearms. 

Both Stidham and Cruz pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges, in August 2019.  Cruz, also a convicted felon, was sentenced to ten years in prison for his role in stealing the firearms. Stidham was sentenced to 100 months.   

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Tommy Estevan, Acting Special Agent in Charge for ATF Louisville Field Division; Richard W. Sanders, KSP Commissioner; Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department; Michael Helmig, Boone County Sheriff; Matt Sparks, Rowan County Sheriff; Ernie Kelty, Mercer County Sheriff; and Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff, collectively announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the ATF, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, the Kentucky State Police, Lexington Police Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, and Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger W. West. 

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. —Mikhy Farrera-Brochez, a 34-year-old man originally from Winchester, Kentucky, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison Friday, by United States Chief District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for sending extortionate communications to the Government of Singapore and its Ministry of Health and using the means of identification of over 14,200 people as leverage in his extortion attempt.

According to trial testimony, Farrera-Brochez obtained access to a database belonging to the Singaporean Ministry of Health that listed the private identifying and medical information of thousands of people in Singapore living with HIV, including more than 50 U.S. citizens. Farrera-Brochez sent the database to his mother in Kentucky, and retrieved it when he returned to Kentucky in 2018.

On January 22, Farrera-Brochez sent an email to several officials of the Government of Singapore that included three links to places on the internet where he had put copies of the database. Farrera-Brochez made several demands in that email. On February 18, Farrera-Brochez sent a second email to officials of the Government of Singapore threatening to publish the database if his demands were not met.

Farrera-Brochez was convicted on June 4. In addition to the sentencing, Farrera-Brochez was also ordered to forfeit to the federal government the electronic devices and Google accounts that he used in his crimes. Upon release from prison, Farrera-Brochez will be on supervised release for 3 years.                                    

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, jointly made the announcement.

“The defendant’s conduct was serious and significant, affecting thousands of people across the world,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “The defendant unlawfully obtained the private, personal identifying information of more than 14,000 people, including American citizens, and used this information in an attempt to extort the government of a foreign nation.  Without the hard work of law enforcement personnel, the defendant could have caused significant additional harm, by publishing this personal and private information.” 

The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Kentucky State Police. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Dmitriy Slavin and Special Assistant United States Attorney James Chapman.

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Ronald Mark Harrison, 49, of Lexington, Kentucky, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison on Friday, by United States District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for acquiring firearms through the making of false statements.

In June 2017 and February 2018, Harrison purchased several firearms from Bud’s Gun Shop in Lexington. During the purchases, Harrison provided false information to the store claiming to be the true purchaser of these firearms when, in fact, he was obtaining the firearms on behalf of a co-defendant, Lawrence Westbrook III, a convicted felon. These types of transactions are commonly known as “straw purchases” and are prohibited under federal law. Harrison previously pled guilty to two counts involving the acquisition of these firearms. As part of his plea, Harrison further admitted to obtaining other firearms and later trading them to Westbrook in exchange for narcotics.

On August 23, Westbrook pled guilty to charges involving the possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Westbrook is set to be sentenced on December 13. He faces up to life in prison and a maximum fine of $5 million. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal sentencing statutes.

Under federal law, Harrison must serve 85 percent of his sentence. Upon completion of his imprisonment, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for a period of 3 years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Stuart L. Lowery, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division, and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of Police, Lexington Police Department, jointly made the announcement.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The PSN program was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

– END –

 

 

 

COVINGTON, Ky. – A Newport, Kentucky, man was sentenced in federal court on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning, to five years of probation and 30 days of intermittent confinement for committing Social Security fraud.

According to his guilty plea, from July 2013 through April 2018, Robert Howard, 57, defrauded the Social Security Administration by continuing to fraudulently receive his father’s Title II Social Security benefits, after his father’s death, and knowingly concealing his father’s death from the SSA.  Howard admitted to calling the Florence, Ky., SSA office and impersonating his deceased father, in an attempt to ensure wrongful continuation of monthly payments.  The total amount that Howard fraudulently received from the SSA was $82,565.10.  As part of the sentence, the district court ordered Howard to repay this amount in restitution.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Wayne R. Warren, Resident Agent-in-Charge, SSA Office of the Inspector General, Atlanta Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was directed by the SSA-OIG.  The United States was represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Chapman.

 

– END –

 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – United States Attorney Robert Duncan will have press availability in Lexington on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019 at 3 p.m., along with Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI to discuss a sentencing.

Where:         U.S. Attorney's Office

Eastern District of Kentucky

260 W. Vine Street, Suite 300

Lexington, Kentucky  40507

When:          Friday, Sept. 27, 2019 at 3 p.m.

 

COVINGTON, Ky. – A Latonia, Kentucky, man who previously admitted to illegally possessing nine Social Security cards and aggravated identity theft, was sentenced today to 40 months in prison, by U.S. District Court Judge David L. Bunning

Jesse Bryant, 37, pleaded guilty to the charges in June 2019.  According to his plea agreement, at the time the identification documents were discovered in the vehicle that Bryant was driving, law enforcement also discovered stolen credit cards and equipment used to make or alter stolen identification documents.

Under federal law, Bryant must serve 85 percent of his/her prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.

Robert M. Duncan Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and the Yvonne DiCristoforo, Special Agent in Charge for the United States Secret Service, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura K. Voorhees.

— END —

LONDON, Ky. – Keisha Pelote, 33, of Waldorf, Maryland, was indicted on Wednesday, on one count of possession with intent to distribute buprenorphine, aka Suboxone, and one count of attempting to provide it to an inmate in a federal prison.

The Indictment alleges that Pelote possessed the drug with the intent of distributing it and attempted to introduce it into FCI Manchester.

If convicted of the drug trafficking charge, Pelote faces up to 10 years of imprisonment, a $500,000.00 fine, and at least two years of federal supervised release.  If convicted of attempting to introduce the buprenorphine into FCI Manchester, shefaces up to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of federal supervised release.

Robert M. Duncan Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, made the announcement after a federal grand jury in London returned the indictment.

Assistant United States Attorney R. Nicholas Rabold is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Prisons, with the assistance of the Department of Homeland Security.

Pelote’s appearance before the United States District Court has not yet been set.

An indictment by a grand jury is an accusation only, and individuals charged in an indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

– END –

LONDON, Ky.- Charles R. Hubbard, 56, of Pineville, Kentucky, was sentenced to 94 months in federal prison Monday, for conspiring with others to distribute an aggravated amount of methamphetamine in Harlan County and Bell County, by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier. 

According to Hubbard’s plea agreement, he participated in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy from January 2018 through January 1, 2019.  Hubbard’s plea agreement further states that he worked with Crystal Leach and others to procure methamphetamine in or around Tennessee for distribution throughout both Harlan County and Bell County. On January 24, 2018, Hubbard possessed over 50 grams of methamphetamine in Harlan County. On August 24, 2018, Hubbard possessed approximately 26 grams of methamphetamine in Bell County. As part of his plea, Hubbard forfeited $930.00 in drug proceeds.       

Hubbard pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture on June 6.

Under federal law, Hubbard must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Hubbard will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years following his prison sentence.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, James Robert Brown, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Louisville Field Division, and Commissioner Richard W. Sanders, Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI London Office, KSP, Appalachian High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Appalachian Narcotics Task Force, the Harlan County Sherriff’s Office, the Bell County Sherriff’s Office, and the Pineville Police Department.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna E. Reed. 

— END —

LONDON, Ky.- A Flat Lick, Kentucky man, Jerry “Rabbit” Cox, 70, admitted to drug trafficking in federal court on Monday.

Cox pled guilty to distributing a quantity of pills containing oxycodone and hydrocodone, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hanly A. Ingram. Cox admitted to selling oxycodone 30 mg pills to an informant on April 17, 2018, from his residence in Knox County, and hydrocodone pills from his business in Knox County on April 26, 2018.                       

Cox was indicted in June 2019.

Robert M. Duncan Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Daniel Dodds, acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division, and Commissioner Richard W. Sanders, Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kentucky State Police. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason D. Parman. 

A sentencing date has not yet been set. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. 

— END —

Lexington, KY- Two Mexican Nationals, illegally residing in the U.S., and one Nicholasville, Ky., man, who previously admitted to transporting more than 100 kilograms of marijuana from Phoenix, Az., to Nicholasville, Ky., were sentenced on Thursday.

 U.S. District Court Judge Karen Caldwell sentenced, Fabian Zavala-Romero, 42, Jonathan Mendoza-Ricardo, 30, and Jesus Sabino Castro-Quinones, 38, to 68 months, 68 months, and 60 months respectively. Another defendant involved in the case, Fabian Noperi, 35, is scheduled for sentencing in October.

 According to plea agreements, Zavala, Castro, Noperi, and Mendoza, admitted that they conspired to transport marijuana from Phoenix to Nicholasville for the purpose of distributing the marijuana in Kentucky. The amount of marijuana they intended to distribute was more than 100 kilograms.

Under federal law, Zavala, Castro, and Mendoza must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Steven L. Igyarto, Resident Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, and Todd Justice, Chief of Police for Nicholasville Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Nicholasville Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Tanner Bradley.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The PSN program was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

— END —

FRANKFORT, Ky. – On Tuesday, Joshua Bybee, 23, of Frankfort, Kentucky, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove for making a false statement in the acquisition of a firearm.

Bybee had previously pleaded guilty to one count involving the making of a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. On January 14, 2019, Bybee entered Dan’s Discount Jewelry and Pawn in Frankfort, a federally licensed firearms dealer, and attempted to purchase a 9mm pistol. In his attempt, Bybee represented that he was not legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm when, in fact, he was subject to two separate domestic violence orders from two different individuals. Both domestic violence orders restrained Bybee from harassing, stalking, or threatening individuals covered under the order. Additionally, both orders prohibited the Bybee from possessing a firearm while each order was in effect. Federal law prohibits the possession of firearms by persons subject to domestic violence orders.  The business declined to sell the firearm to Bybee after a background check revealed the domestic violence orders.

Bybee must serve 85 percent of his 18 month sentence. Upon completion of his imprisonment, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for a period of three years.

“The making of false statements in an attempt to obtain a firearm is a serious felony offense, especially when the person is prohibited for possessing firearms by domestic violence orders,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “The defendant attempted to conceal the existence of his domestic violence orders by misrepresenting his status to the federally licensed firearms dealer.  Fortunately, the background check worked; it prevented the sale, kept the firearm out of the hands of a an individual already subject to two court orders due to violence, and helped prevent a more dangerous situation.”       

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Tommy Estevan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division, jointly made the announcement.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The PSN program was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

– END –

London, KY- Shiloh Adams, 34, of Jeremiah, Ky., and Mitchell Adams, 35, of Whitesburg, Ky., were sentenced Tuesday, to 150 months in prison and 94 months in prison respectively, by United States District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for drug trafficking and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to their plea agreements, in November 2018, the Adams’ traveled from Letcher County, Ky., to Louisville, Ky., to purchase methamphetamine for purposes of distribution in the Eastern District of Kentucky. Law enforcement stopped the Adams’ vehicle on the return trip to Letcher County.  During a search of the vehicle, officers found over 50 grams of methamphetamine a .540 caliber pistol, and $10,249 in cash.

Shiloh Adams pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Mitchell Adams pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Under federal law, the Defendants must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Shiloh Adams and Mitchell Adams will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for six years and five years respectively.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Tommy Estevan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.

 The investigation was conducted by the Louisville Police Department and the ATF’s Ashland Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna Reed.  

— END —

Ft. Mitchell, Ky. – An Independence man was convicted late Thursday, by a federal jury sitting in Covington, of distributing child pornography.

The jury convicted Michael Clark, 49, after four hours of deliberations, following a four-day trial.

According to the evidence at trial, Clark distributed child pornography, on five different occasions, to a law enforcement officer via BitTorrent, which is a peer-to-peer file-sharing network. A search warrant was executed at Clark’s residence in April 2018. A computer was seized and a forensic examination revealed evidence of the child pornography. 

Clark was indicted in in November 2018. 

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, Kentucky Attorney General, Steven L. Igyarto, Resident Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, and Michael “Spike” Jones, Sheriff of Kenton County Police Department, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.

The investigation was conducted by the Kenton County Police Department, the Kentucky Office of Attorney General, and Homeland Security Investigations. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine K. Leonhard. 

Clark will appear for sentencing, before U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning, on January 3, 2020. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing the sentence.

— END —

A federal jury in Kentucky found two men guilty of conspiring to use more than $206,670 of corporate funds to make contributions to the campaign of a candidate for United States Senate and for causing the concealment of these contributions from the Federal Election Commission (FEC). 

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr. for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge James Robert Brown Jr. of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office made the announcement.

Following a five-week trial, the jury convicted Gerald G. Lundergan of Lexington, Kentucky, of one count of conspiracy, one count of making corporate campaign contributions, four counts of causing the submission of false statements to the FEC and four counts of causing the falsification of documents with the intent to obstruct and impede a matter within the FEC’s jurisdiction.  The jury convicted Dale C. Emmons of Richmond, Kentucky, of one count of conspiracy, one count of making corporate campaign contributions, two counts of causing the submission of false statements and two counts of causing the falsification of documents with the intent to obstruct and impede. 

According to the evidence presented at trial, Lundergan used the funds of S.R. Holding Company Inc. (S.R. Holding), a company he owned, to pay for services provided by consultants and vendors to a campaign for a United States Senate seat in the 2014 election cycle.  The candidate for this seat was Lundergan’s daughter, Alison Lundergan Grimes.  The evidence established that Lundergan caused the issuance of a number of payments from S.R. Holding funds for services that included audio-video production, lighting, recorded telephone calls and campaign consulting, between July 2013 and December 2015. 

The corporate contributions also included monthly payments from S.R. Holding to Emmons and his company during this period.  Emmons provided services to the campaign and sought and received compensation from Lundergan and S.R. Holding.   Emmons also used the funds of his corporation, Emmons & Company Inc., to pay other vendors and a campaign worker for services rendered to the campaign.  Those services included recorded telephone calls, technological support services, and other campaign-related expenses. 

The evidence established that Lundergan and Emmons concealed these activities from other officials associated with the campaign.  Their concealments caused the campaign unwittingly to file false reports with the FEC because the reports failed to disclose the source and amount of the corporate contributions. 

Deputy Chief Robert J. Heberle of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew T. Boone and Kate K. Smith are prosecuting the case.  

 

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A federal jury sitting in Frankfort found Gerald G. Lundergan, of Lexington, Ky., and Dale C. Emmons, of Richmond, Ky., guilty of conspiring to use more than $206,670 of corporate funds to make contributions to the campaign of a candidate for United States Senate and for causing the concealment of these contributions from the Federal Election Commission (FEC). 

Brian A. Benczkowski, Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division; Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Louisville Field Office, made the announcement.

After two hours of deliberations following a five-week trial, the jury convicted Lundergan of one count of conspiracy, one count of making corporate campaign contributions, four counts of causing the submission of false statements to the FEC, and four counts of causing the falsification of documents with the intent to obstruct and impede a matter within the FEC’s jurisdiction.  The jury convicted Emmons of one count of conspiracy, one count of making corporate campaign contributions, two counts of causing the submission of false statements, and two counts of causing the falsification of documents with the intent to obstruct and impede. 

According to the evidence presented at trial, Lundergan used the funds of S.R. Holding Company, Inc. (S.R. Holding), a company he owned, to pay for services provided by consultants and vendors to a campaign for a United States Senate seat in the 2014 election cycle.  The candidate for this seat was Lundergan’s daughter, Alison Lundergan Grimes.  The evidence established that Lundergan caused the issuance of a number of payments from S.R. Holding funds for services that included audio-video production, lighting, recorded telephone calls, and campaign consulting, between July 2013 and December 2015. 

The corporate contributions also included monthly payments from S.R. Holding to Emmons and his company during this period.  Emmons provided services to the campaign and sought and received compensation from Lundergan and S.R. Holding.   Emmons also used the funds of his corporation, Emmons & Company, Inc., to pay other vendors and a campaign worker for services rendered to the campaign.  Those services included recorded telephone calls, technological support services, and other campaign-related expenses. 

“The jury’s verdict reinforces the fundamental principle that rules apply to everyone,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr.  “The defendants' actions were deliberately designed to evade reporting requirements that serve to protect the integrity and transparency of federal elections.  Stated simply, they knew what they were doing was wrong. This prosecution would not have been possible without the dedicated work of the trial team and all our law enforcement partners.” 

The evidence established that Lundergan and Emmons concealed these activities from other officials associated with the campaign.  Their concealments caused the campaign unwittingly to file false reports with the FEC because the reports failed to disclose the source and amount of the corporate contributions. 

“Fairly and honestly selecting our country's leaders is at the very foundation of our democracy, and the integrity of the system must be protected,” said James R. Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge Louisville Field Office. “Today's conviction should serve notice that FBI Louisville and the U.S. Attorney's Office are fully committed to investigating and prosecuting those who wish to corrupt the election process.”   

The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew T. Boone and Kate K. Smith and Deputy Chief Robert J. Heberle of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.

Lundergan and Emmons will appear for sentencing on January 22, 2020.  They each face up to 5 years in prison for the conspiracy conviction, each corporate campaign contribution conviction, and each false statement conviction; up to 20 years in prison for each obstruction conviction; and a maximum fine of $250,000 per conviction.  However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing the sentences. 

– END –

 

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Edward J. Anderson, IV, 32, of Richmond, was sentenced Thursday to 130 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Karen K. Caldwell, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

In September 2018, officers with the Madison County HIDTA Task Force, arrested Anderson outside his home in Madison County. During a search officers located approximately 8 ounces of fentanyl, approximately 24 ounces of methamphetamine, and a stolen 9mm handgun. During his plea, Anderson admitted the firearm possessed in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Under federal law, Anderson must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for three years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Tommy Estevan, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Louisville Field Division, jointly made the announcement.

The ATF, Madison County HIDTA task force, and the Richmond Police Department conducted the investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Cynthia T. Rieker.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The PSN program was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

– END –

LONDON, Ky. – A Somerset, Ky., man was found guilty yesterday, by a federal jury sitting in London, of conspiring with co-conspirator Jason T. Castenir to run a complex and long-running Ponzi scheme.  During the scheme, they defrauded dozens of victims out of over $2.2 million, through three fake investments.

After a brief deliberation following an eight-day trial, the jury convicted 58-year-old Rodney Scott Phelps of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 12 additional counts of wire fraud.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Rodney Scott Phelps and Jason Castenir created Maverick Asset Management LLC (“MAM”) in 2012, as a private-equity firm.  Beginning around this time, and continuing until late 2014, Castenir and Phelps convinced a number of investors from across the country, including in Washington State, Ohio, Arizona, and Nevada, to invest in an opportunity to obtain an oil concession from the government of Belize.  They boasted of vast experience in successful oil exploration ventures and promised investors royalties on any oil extracted and a considerable interest rate on their investment, all of which was to be backed by Phelps’s multi-million dollar trust, in the name of Phelps Family Trust.  Investors raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for this investment, wiring those funds to MAM in Kentucky.  Evidence at trial revealed that Phelps and Castenir had little experience with successful oil ventures; there was no sizeable Phelps Family Trust; and they used the money they raised for MAM operating expenses, to pay themselves, and to make Ponzi payments back to other victim-investors. 

In a related scheme, Phelps convinced three victims from Tennessee to invest roughly $1.2 million with MAM to trade on various commodities markets, again boasting of MAM’s vast experience successfully trading on these markets, including with funds from the Phelps Family Trust, and convincing victims that the Phelps Family Trust backed their investment.  Phelps and Castenir invested roughly one-third of this money on commodities markets, losing almost all of it in short measure, but sent victims accounting statements detailing profits on their investments.  Phelps and Castenir spent the rest of the money on MAM operating expenses, personal profit, and Ponzi payments to other victim-investors.

In a third scheme, Phelps convinced two victims from Tennessee to pay $1 million to an escrow account earmarked for initiating the purchase of a casino in Tunica, Mississippi.  Phelps had committed to likewise pay $1 million from the Phelps Family Trust to match the victim investment, but never did.  Instead, Phelps and Castenir took this money from the escrow account to pay MAM operating expenses, invest on commodities and stock markets, personally profit, and for Ponzi payments to other victim-investors.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and James Robert Brown Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Louisville Division, jointly announced the verdict.  The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Commodities and Futures Trading Commission and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.  The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Kathryn M. Anderson and Kenneth R. Taylor.

Phelps will appear for sentencing on December 3, 2019.  He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.  Castenir had previously pleaded guilty for his role in these offenses, and others, on August 18, 2017.  His sentencing is scheduled for September 24, 2019, and he likewise faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.  However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing the sentences. 

– END –

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Warren Griffin, II, 50, of Lancaster, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison Wednesday by United States District Judge Karen K. Caldwell for taking part in a $15 million employment tax fraud scheme.

Griffin will begin serving his new sentence after he finishes a 37-month term, from a 2018 conviction in the Southern District of Illinois, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  He must also pay the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) $2.8 million in restitution.  Upon release from prison, Griffin will be on supervised release for three years.

According to his plea agreement, Griffin recruited and paid associates to open staffing companies and bank accounts, whose primary purpose was to hide from the IRS the fact that businesses run by Griffin and his co-defendant, Clarence Michel, Jr., had failed to pay $14,671,184 in owed federal payroll taxes.  Griffin obtained $2,118,584 of that money.  During this time, Griffin also underpaid his personal federal income taxes by $700,428.

Michel had previously pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 71 months in federal prison and ordered to pay over $19 million in restitution.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and William Chung, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, jointly announced the sentence. 

The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dmitriy Slavin.

– END –

 

PIKEVILLE, Ky.— Jackson Noel, a pharmacist operating Buffalo Drug Inc., in Buffalo WV., was found guilty on Tuesday of conspiring to dispense and distribute oxycodone and oxymorphone.

Proof at trial established that as part of the conspiracy Noel unlawfully dispensed oxycodone and oxymorphone pills from the pharmacy to out-of-state customers, including customers from Kentucky.  Noel dispensed the pills on a cash only basis.        

According to the indictment, Noel began conspiring and distributing the drugs in June 2015 through December 2016 in Pike County, the Eastern District of Kentucky, and elsewhere.

Noel will be sentenced in December 2019 and faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervision after release.

“The defendant’s unlawful dispensing of powerful opioid pills contributed to the crisis currently affecting the Appalachian region, and our District, specifically,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “The jury’s verdict ensures that the defendant will be held accountable for his actions. I commend the efforts of the various law enforcement and regulatory agencies who played a role in this investigation.”    

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Dan Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA; and Richard W. Sanders, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police jointly announced the jury’s verdict.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, the Putnam County, West Virginia, Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Dotson.

– END –

LONDON, Ky. – Mitzi Shawn Sears, 59, of Nancy, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison Monday by United States District Judge Robert E. Wier for taking over half a million dollars from an elderly couple, as part of a bank fraud scheme.

Sears must pay $502,780.10 in restitution and forfeit her rights to a property she purchased with the victims’ money. Upon release from prison, Sears will be on supervised release for five years.

According to her plea agreement, Sears convinced the victims to buy a certain piece of real property in Pulaski County with her as an investment. Sears then told the victims that the property was part of a lawsuit and they needed to provide more funds to pay attorneys and others in order to finish the transaction, but the transaction never existed. To keep the victims unaware of the scheme, Sears pretended to be various people in phone calls and drafted fake emails. When the victims ran out of money to give to Sears, they took out a $40,000 loan and provided their bank with the false information that Sears had given to them.

Sears used those checks to purchase a different property in Nancy that she must now forfeit. Additionally, Sears forged 16 checks belonging to the victims.

“Working with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to holding accountable those who of engage in financial exploitation of elderly victims,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  “The defendant’s fraud scheme deprived the victims’ of a substantial amount of money.  The sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of her offense.”     

U. S. Attorney Duncan, Special Agent in Charge James Robert Brown, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Commissioner Richard W. Sanders, Kentucky State Police jointly announced the sentence. 

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dmitriy Slavin represented the United States.

This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s efforts, together with federal and state partner agencies, to investigate and combat elder financial exploitation and obtain restitution for vulnerable victims. For information on the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force, including how to report abuses, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/elder-justice-task-force.

– END –

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Eldronte Domonique Washington, of Lexington, was sentenced Monday to 80 months in federal prison, by United States Senior District Judge Joseph M. Hood, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. 

In December 2018, Lexington Police executed a search warrant on Washington’s residence and located 67 grams of fentanyl, multiple baggies, digital scales, three handguns (one stolen, one defaced), and $4,230 in cash.  In his plea agreement, Washington admitted that he intended to distribute the fentanyl and further agreed to forfeit his interest in the handguns and currency. Washington pleaded guilty in May 2019.

Under federal law, Washington must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years following his release.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Dan Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA; and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of the Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kiebler.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), a Department of Justice initiative designed to target trafficking of dangerous synthetic opioids.

– END –

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tanisha R. Berry of Danville, Ky., was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Joseph M. Hood, to 138 months in federal prison, for possessing with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

On November 24, 2018, the Boyle County Sheriff’s Office, began investigating drug distribution activity at Berry’s residence in Danville. On November 25, 2018, a search warrant was executed at the residence. Berry was present and the search of her bedroom yielded 487 grams of methamphetamine and 66.7 grams of fentanyl. Underneath the mattress, in close proximity to the drugs, deputies located a loaded .380 caliber pistol. Deputies also located $4,179 in drug proceeds.             

The investigation was conducted by the Boyle County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger W. West. 

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Derek Robbins, Boyle County Sheriff; and Dan Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., man admitted in federal court Monday to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin.

Damon Bristol Hardy, 33, pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, before Chief United States District Judge Danny C. Reeves. As part of his guilty plea, Hardy confessed that on April 2, 2019, in Woodford County, he possessed and intended to distribute 6.8 grams of a mixture that contained fentanyl and heroin.  Hardy also agreed to abandon $587 in cash and various drug paraphernalia seized from him.  Hardy admitted that he threw the object that contained the controlled substances away from his body as he fled police.

Hardy also agreed that he has at least one prior felony drug conviction.  According to the plea agreement, Hardy has been convicted for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin) in Woodford Circuit Court.  Due to his serious criminal history, Hardy is subject to an enhanced sentence.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Dan Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; and Chief Mike Murray, Versailles Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was directed by the Versailles Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The United States was represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Chapman.

Hardy is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20, 2019, at 10:15 a.m., before Chief Judge Reeves in federal court in Lexington.  Based on Hardy’s criminal history, he faces up to 30 years in prison, as well as a maximum fine of $2,000,000.  However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.

– END –

PIKEVILLE, Ky.- A Johnson County, Kentucky man admitted in federal court Friday that he conspired to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine.

Proctor Wayne Pennington, Sr., 65, pled guilty Friday to conspiring to distribute 500 grams of methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine, before U.S. District Court Judge Karen K. Caldwell.  

Pennington admitted that from October 2018 through April 3, 2019, he conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine. According to the plea agreement, Pennington obtained the methamphetamine from a supplier in Louisville, Kentucky, and then distributed the methamphetamine to others in Johnson County. Law enforcement seized methamphetamine from Pennington on April 3, 2019, and Pennington was indicted in April 2019.

“Methamphetamine is a highly addictive, dangerous drug that is ruining many lives in eastern Kentucky,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Our Office, along with our law enforcement partners, remain committed to holding methamphetamine traffickers accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to the plea agreement, Pennington has a previous federal drug felony conviction for conspiring to distribute oxycodone. Because of the prior serious drug felony conviction, Pennington is subject to an enhanced sentence.

“The defendant’s significant drug trafficking undoubtedly contributed to the increased availability of methamphetamine in the region,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “The defendant’s prior conviction for drug trafficking makes his conduct in this case even more serious. As a prior convicted drug trafficker, he is likely facing a more severe sentence for his crimes.”    

U.S. Attorney Duncan, Dan Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division, and Doug Saylor, Johnson County Sheriff, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by Drug Enforcement Administration and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew H. Trimble. 

Pennington is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2019. He faces a minimum of 15 years in prison, with a maximum of Life, as well as a maximum fine of $20 million. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. 

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Barry E. Sanders,63, the former owner and CEO of Trailblazers, Inc., an auto and truck parts supply business formerly located in Lexington, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Monday to violating U.S. bankruptcy laws.  

Appearing in U.S. District Court, Sanders admitted that while Trailblazers, Inc., was in the process of contemplating bankruptcy in the summer of 2013, he transferred $315,000 from the business to his personal banking accounts using four cashier’s checks. Sanders then knowingly concealed the receipt of those funds, by failing to report the cash transfers on Trailblazers’ corporate bankruptcy filings in August 2013, as was required by law.  

“The defendant took advantage of a process designed to aid troubled businesses,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “His conviction demonstrates that the government will not tolerate business owners violating the bankruptcy system for personal gain.”  

U. S. Attorney Duncan and James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly announced the guilty plea by Sanders.  

The investigation leading to Sanders’ conviction was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Roth and Will Moynahan. 

Senior U.S. District Court Judge Joseph M. Hood accepted the guilty plea of Sanders and set a sentencing date of December 9, 2019. Sanders faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.  Before imposing a sentence, the Court will take into consideration the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and federal sentencing statutes.

 — END —

PIKEVILLE, Ky. - A South Carolina man admitted in federal court Friday that he knowingly produced and received child pornography.

Jonathan Edward Manigault, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of knowingly receiving child pornography, before U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell.  

Manigault admitted he directed Christina B. Mitchell, of Pike County, to take photographs of a 3-year-old victim, engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Manigault provided Mitchell with specific, detailed instructions on what types of explicit photographs to produce and provide.  According to the plea agreement, Mitchell transmitted the photographs of the minor to Manigault using the Facebook Messenger application. After receipt, Manigualt had Mitchell agree to produce additional images of underage victims.

Manigault and Mitchell were indicted on October 24, 2018.

Mitchell pleaded guilty to two counts of producing child pornography on August 26, 2019. According to her plea agreement, Mitchell produced sexually explicit images of a 3-year-old and 8-year-old victims.

“Protecting children from this unconscionable conduct is of the utmost importance to all law enforcement,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “The defendant’s guilty plea today, and his co-defendant’s guilty plea in August, ensure that they will not have the opportunity to victimize other innocent children. I commend the efforts of law enforcement for their work in removing these dangerous individuals from our streets.”   

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and James Robert Brown, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna E. Reed. 

Mitchell’s and Manigault’s sentencing hearings are scheduled for December 16, 2019, in Pikeville. Mitchell faces up to 60 years in prison and Manigault faces up to 50 years in prison.  Both defendants face a maximum fine of $250,000. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. 

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Montgomery County man was indicted Thursday on multiple counts of bank fraud in a scheme to avoid repaying more than $150,000 in loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), a division of the United States Department of Agriculture.

A federal grand jury in Lexington returned an 11-count indictment charging Steven Ray Williams, 57, with selling off secured loan collateral, including cattle and farm equipment, in the names of other individuals and then forging endorsement signatures on checks, all in order to avoid turning over the proceeds to the Farm Service Agency. 

Williams was also charged with aggravated identity theft for using the means of identity of another person, without permission, in order to facilitate bank fraud.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Bethanne M. Dinkins, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Southeast Region, United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, jointly announced the indictment.  The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Moynahan. 

A date for Williams to appear in federal court has not yet been scheduled.  He faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 on each bank fraud count.  For the aggravated identity theft, he faces a prison sentence of two years. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.

Any indictment is an accusation only.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington woman was indicted Thursday for making multiple false bomb threats to Lexington’s 911 emergency response center.

A federal grand jury in Lexington returned a 3-count indictment charging 31-year-old Crystal Brotherton with intimidating individuals by making threats involving explosives and the destruction of buildings. The indictment specifically alleges Brotherton called Lexington’s 911 system and told the operator there were bombs at multiple business at an intersection off of New Circle Road. She allegedly demanded the businesses be evacuated in 15 minutes or “everyone will die.” According to the indictment, Brotherton made three calls to 911 around June 20 and 21, 2018, all involving similar threats of death and destruction.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of the Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the indictment. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Lexington Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Moynahan.

A date for Brotherton to appear in federal court has not yet been scheduled. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each charge. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.

Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

— END —

Lexington, Ky. – A federal grand jury sitting in London has indicted Douglas M. Edmonson, 36, of Corbin, Kentucky; Dallas Anna Chain Perkins, 25, of Jellico, Tennessee; Bryanna Soper, 25, of Corbin, Kentucky; and Erik Peace, 32, of Corbin, Kentucky for kidnapping.     

The charge stems from a yearlong investigation by the ATF, the Kentucky State Police, and the Williamsburg Police Department.  According to the indictment, the defendants kidnapped Victim 1 on August 10, 2018, for the purpose of assaulting Victim 1.  The defendants used a Facebook account to lure Victim 1 to a prearranged meeting place.  The indictment further alleges that the defendants transported Victim 1 across state lines during the course of the kidnapping.  Pursuant to the indictment, Victim 1 was held against her will into August 11, 2018.  

If convicted the defendants face up to life in prison.  Soper had her initial appearance on September 4, 2019.  Edmonson, Perkins, and Peace will have initial appearances scheduled.   

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Stuart Lowrey, Special Agent in Charge ATF; Kentucky States Police Commissioner Richard Sanders; and Chief Wayne Bird, Williamsburg Police Department, jointly made the announcement. 

The investigation was conducted by the ATF London Office, the Kentucky State Police, and Williamsburg Police Department.  The United States is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Jenna E. Reed.    

An indictment by a grand jury is an accusation only, and individuals charged in an indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

– END –

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A federal grand jury sitting in Lexington has charged four men for their involvement in a kidnapping that resulted in the deaths of two Lexington men.  Rosario Diaz Barraza, 29, Ramon Camacho Zepeda, 51, Josė Felix Tlatenchi, 37, and Tomás Tlatenchi, 37, were each indicted Thursday for offenses related to the kidnapping and homicide of Josė Olascoaga, 29, and Marco Antonio Tunai Ortiz, 27, both of Lexington.  

The grand jury charged all four defendants with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping that resulted in death, and one count of interstate transportation of stolen vehicles.  The indictment alleges that the charged offenses occurred on or about September 11, 2017, at a business located on Blue Sky Parkway in Lexington.  The victims were discovered on September 14, 2017, in the trunk of a Volkswagen Jetta at the Blue Sky Parkway crime scene.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Daniel Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville; and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of Police, Lexington Division of Police, jointly announced the indictment.  Assistant United States Attorney Todd Bradbury presented the indictment to the grand jury.

All four defendants are scheduled to appear in federal court, for their arraignment on the charges, on September 10, 2019 at 2:30 p.m.  Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.  However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes.

An indictment is an accusation only. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

 – END –