Eastern District of Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Eugene Laron Fishback, 32, was sentenced on Monday, by U.S. District Chief Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 40 years in prison, for five counts of drug trafficking.

In June 2024, following a four-day trial and approximately 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Fishback guilty of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 10 grams or more of carfentanil.  Fishback was also convicted of two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and carfentanil, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to testimony at trial, between July 1, 2022 and December 7, 2023, Fishback conspired with others to distribute fentanyl and carfentanil.  On October 11, 2023, Fishback and his girlfriend, Tedi Hawkins, were evicted from their Lexington apartment.  During a court ordered eviction, Fayette County Constables and members of the Lexington Police Department found plastic bags in the apartment, which contained over 7,000 fentanyl tablets, and four semi-automatic pistols, ammunition, and large capacity clips.  Fishback and Hawkins later relocated to another apartment complex and came under DEA and Lexington Police Department investigation.

A federal search warrant was executed on the new residence, in December 2023.  Execution of that warrant resulted in the seizure of more than 1,000 additional fentanyl tablets and a quantity of carfentanil.  Fishback was later arrested from his vehicle, which contained another 1,000 fentanyl tablets and more than 10 grams of carfentanil.   

After Hawkins had entered a guilty plea, Fishback attempted to convince her to withdraw that guilty plea, during a recorded jail call.

At the time of his indictment on these federal charges, Fishback had four pending state felony indictments in Fayette County. Additionally, Fishback has a number of prior felony convictions.

Under federal law, Fishback must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon Fishback’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. 

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by DEA, KSP, and Lexington Police Department, with assistance from the Fayette County Constable’s Office Third District. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger West and Brittany Baker are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.  

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Vonnie McDaniels, 35, was sentenced on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 96 months, for wire fraud and other charges related to COVID relief programs.

Specifically, McDaniels was convicted in September 2024 of four counts of wire fraud, for fraudulently applying for three Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID-19 relief loans and for fraudulently applying to the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government’s (LFUCG) federally funded Housing Stabilization Program (HSP), a tenant rent relief program; two counts of aggravated identity theft for submitting tenant rent relief applications, pretending to be his tenants; six counts of money laundering; and two counts of committing an offense while on conditions of release.

According to the evidence at trial, McDaniels submitted a materially false application to the SBA, to obtain an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EDIL), for one business, fraudulently obtaining a $100,000 loan.  The Defendant also submitted three materially false Payment Protection Program (PPP) applications, for the same business and for another business that was no longer in operation at the time of the pandemic.  Two of the three PPP applications were eventually funded, and McDaniels obtained $93,231.  McDaniels also inflated numbers on his applications to increase the loan amount and uploaded fraudulent tax documents to support his numbers.  In 2020, he obtained a total of $193,231 in disaster relief funds from the SBA.  The theft was discovered by law enforcement when preparing for an earlier trial, in June 2021, when McDaniels was previously convicted of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

McDaniels used the SBA loan proceeds to pay off personal credit cards and loans, free up home equity lines of credit, purchase a new property in South Carolina, and pay his unlawfully obtained mortgage, which had been the subject of his June 2021 bank fraud trial.

In 2021, McDaniels also submitted a materially false application to LFUCG’s HSP for tenant rent relief for two properties.  McDaniels uploaded fraudulent leases, vastly inflating the monthly rent amount and pretended to be his two tenants when he submitted the tenant portions of the application.  McDaniels solicited personal identifying information from his tenants, told his tenants about the rent relief program, and informed his tenants that they did not qualify.  Then, he fraudulently obtained $45,000 in COVID rental relief assistance, while he continued to make his tenants pay their monthly rent.  He committed these offenses while subject to conditions of release, following his prior conviction.

Under federal law, McDaniels must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. McDaniels was also ordered to pay $262,017.43 in restitution.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, jointly announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany Dunn-Pirio and Andrea Mattingly Williams are representing the United States in the case.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Waynesburg, Ky., man Steven Fellmy, was convicted on Thursday, by a federal jury sitting in Lexington, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to the evidence at trial, on August 8, 2023, a Simpsonville Police Department Detective relayed an anonymous tip to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, which concerned the transport of a large quantity of methamphetamine from Anderson County into Mercer County.  As a result, Fellmy was traffic stopped in Mercer County, by a Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy.  At the scene, a Harrodsburg Police Department K9 positively alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.  Law enforcement then searched the vehicle, which led to the recovery of 193.5 grams of 95% pure methamphetamine.  On his person, Fellmy also had 9.439 grams of methamphetamine and 22.529 grams of heroin.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Chief Scott Elder, Harrodsburg Police Department; Chief Thomas Brummer, Simpsonville Police Department; and Sheriff Ernie Kelty, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.

The investigation was conducted by DEA, Harrodsburg Police Department, Simpsonville Police Department, and Mercer County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Baker is representing the United States in the case.

Fellmy is scheduled to appear for sentencing on April 17, 2025.  He faces up to life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment because he has a prior felony conviction for a crime of violence.  However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing its sentence. 

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COVINGTON, Ky. – A Covington man, David Juarez, 39, was sentenced on Wednesday to 137 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning for arson and unlawful possession of a destructive device. 

According to his plea agreement, between March 6 and 9, 2023, Juarez maliciously set fire to two structures, using an ignitable liquid and Molotov cocktails.  Specifically, sometime before February 28, 2023, and then again sometime before March 5, 2023, Juarez burglarized an apartment in Covington. During each burglary, Juarez stole personal items belonging to the resident.  On March 6, 2023, Juarez burglarized the apartment again and stole additional personal property; but before leaving, he poured and set fire to an ignitable liquid in two locations within the apartment. 

On March 9, 2023, Juarez committed another arson, this time firebombing a restaurant in Covington. Juarez used the bottles of alcohol he had previously stolen in the first burglary to create Molotov cocktails, throwing them into the restaurant.  The Covington Fire Department were able to extinguish the fire before the fire spread or caused significant damage. 

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Brian Valenti, Covington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by ATF and Covington Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

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LONDON, Ky. – A London man, Joshua Pennington, 50, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hanley Ingram, to conspiracy to commit money laundering of fraudulently obtained Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Payment Protection Loans.  His co-defendant, Nicole Pennington, 48, was indicted in December 2024, on 16 counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering.

According to Joshua Pennington’s plea agreement, his co-defendant made materially false statements on applications for Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.  Six of the loan applications were approved for a total of $1,090,398.35 in fraudulently obtained SBA loan proceeds.  Between May 2020 and June 10, 2021, Joshua Pennington and his co-defendant knowingly laundered over $1,000,000 in criminally derived funds, via transactions over $10,000. They used the money to renovate their kitchen, pay for plastic surgery, purchase a Viking River Cruise trip, withdraw cash, purchase vehicles, and pay off loans and mortgages. 

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Kelly K. Moening, Special Agent in Charge, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Great Lakes Field Division; and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Cincinnati Field Division, jointly announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the IRS-CI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Dunn-Pirio is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Joshua Pennington is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2025.  He faces up to ten years in prison, plus any restitution or fines ordered by the Court. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. – An Indian national, Anurag Pramod Murarka, 30, an international virtual currency vendor operating under two monikers (“elonmuskwhm” and “la2nyc”), was sentenced late Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to 121 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering.  

 According to court documents recently unsealed, since at least April 2021 and continuing until September 29, 2023, Murarka operated an international money laundering business. Murarka advertised his services online, often on dark net marketplaces, as a money laundering service.  Customers would then contact him through encrypted messages, in response to those advertisements, and negotiate an exchange rate. Once the exchange rate had been set, Murarka, located in India, directed his customers to send cryptocurrency to certain cryptocurrency addresses.  Murarka then worked through a complex, pre-arranged hawala operation emanating out of India to arrange for cash to be delivered to his employees in the United States.  Murarka’s network of employees throughout the United States and overseas would collect cash from Murarka’s hawala connections and then package the cash in a variety of ways, including between the pages of books and sealed in multiple envelopes, before mailing the cash to the customer.

Murarka collected a fee for his services and used part of the fee to pay off his employees and co-conspirators.  Murarka was aware that many of his customers engaged in criminal activity – specifically computer hacking and drug trafficking – and therefore knew that his business facilitated that criminal activity, by assisting in disguising the source of the unlawful activity.  In total, Murarka and his co-conspirators laundered more than $20 million in criminal proceeds.

A joint operation between the FBI and USPIS resulted in Murarka’s arrest.  Thereafter, the FBI assumed his online identity, taking control of the money laundering operation and conducting undercover activity.  This operation resulted in law enforcement actions against several of Murarka’s customers, including the prevention of multiple financial account takeovers (in excess of $1.4 million), the seizure of counterfeit and illegal drugs and drug manufacturing equipment, and related prosecutions.  Additionally, the FBI seized millions of dollars’ worth of criminal proceeds.

Under federal law, Murarka must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon Murarka’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.

“Using the internet, the defendant provided his assistance to countless other criminals as they tried to conceal their stolen money and illegal drug proceeds,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  “This case highlights the global scope of cybercrime, as well as the demand for diligence and collaboration in fighting money laundering – a devastating second layer of criminal conduct.  The dedicated work of our law enforcement partners has now held him accountable; and we remain committed in our collaborative efforts to combat this destructive criminal activity.”

“Gone are the days when cyber criminals, who enable and profit from the horrendous criminal conduct of others, can sit safely in their dens, across oceans, convinced of the limited reach of justice.  The success of this operation proves that the FBI can unmask even the most careful anonymous online actors,” said Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office. “Moreover, the FBI will leverage every advantage against criminal networks that cause damage to our communities, to apprehend these malicious actors, seize the proceeds of their crimes, and expose their network of co-conspirators.”

“The successful conclusion of this case involving the sentencing of Anurag Murarka, a cryptocurrency exchanger, shines a light on the United States Postal Inspection Service’s relentless pursuit of criminals who think they can use the anonymity of the dark web to perpetrate crimes and make the US Postal Service an unwitting partner in transferring ill-begotten funds,” said Lesley Allison, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge – Pittsburgh Division.

United States Attorney Shier; FBI Special Agent in Charge Stansbury; and USPIS Postal Inspector in Charge Allison, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by FBI and USPIS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Dieruf prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Detroit man, Khari Smith, 21, was sentenced on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 200 months in prison, for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.

In May 2023, law enforcement began investigating an individual distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine in Lexington, and also identified the vehicle being used to transport the drugs into the area.  On July 10, 2023, law enforcement located the vehicle traveling from Detroit to Kentucky, as one of a pair of vehicles they believed were connected.  Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on both vehicles. Khari Smith and Khmari Smith, his brother and co-defendant, were found in one vehicle, with no evidence of drugs. In the other vehicle, co-defendant Brianna Hanspard, 29, also from Detroit, was found with 4.6 kilograms of methamphetamine and 199.7 grams of fentanyl.  Hanspard admitted agreeing with Khmari Smith and others to transport drugs from Detroit to Lexington, in exchange for payment.

Further investigation established that Khari and Khmari Smith continued their drug distribution, using sources in Detroit. In August 2023, law enforcement searched their leased residences in Lexington.  At the first residence they found 354.4 grams of fentanyl, 216.3 grams of methamphetamine, and 18 firearms; at the second residence, they found additional fentanyl, methamphetamine, and 12 firearms.  Khmari Smith admitted that he received those firearms as payment for drugs he distributed.

In their previous sentencings, Khmari Smith was sentenced to 384 months and Hanspard was sentenced to 84 months.  

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentences.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, and Lexington Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Mexican National illegally residing in Lexington, Serafin Bayona, 35, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, before U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to two counts of financially benefiting from forced labor. 

According to his guilty plea agreement, Bayona participated in a venture to financially benefit through the forced labor of others. Specifically, Bayona would loan money to the victims, all Mexican nationals then living in Mexico, to be smuggled into the United States.  He would then coordinate the smuggling of these victims and arrange transportation to Lexington, where they would be housed in one of several properties he maintained. The victims would repay Bayona, after they obtained work in the United States, with interest that was added to their debt.  Bayona also would charge the victims other fees, including fees for rent, transportation, cleaning, food, clothing, and obtaining employment and false identification documents.  Ultimately, the amounts owed by the victims resulted in an endless cycle of debt.  When the victims protested paying the continued fees, Bayona used threats of force on victims and the victims’ families, including instances of brandishing a firearm, to compel the victims to continue to work in order to pay him.  During the execution of a search warrants at properties Bayona maintained, over $50,000 in cash was discovered, which he admitted was generated through his participation in this forced labor venture. 

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea.         

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, HSI, and Lexington Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Bayona is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2025.

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ASHLAND, Ky. – A Greenup County man, Richard Burton, 50, was sentenced on Monday, to 174 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of child pornography. 

According to his guilty plea, on January 10, 2024, law enforcement received a tip regarding child pornography on the social media platform Kik and discovered Burton was the owner of the flagged account.  After reviewing the account, law enforcement found at least eight pictures or videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Burton’s person and his electronic devices.  On the devices, they located additional evidence, which corroborated the evidence found in the Kik records, along with messages revealing that Burton sent and received child pornography.  Burton admitted to knowingly distributing and possessing the child pornography. 

Under federal law, Burton must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 25 years.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and KSP.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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COVINGTON, Ky. – A Kenton County man, Frank Long, 53, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to illegal possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.     

According to his plea agreement, on November 1, 2024, law enforcement responded to a call for service, after someone identified a man urinating in public.  Upon arriving at the scene, officers identified Long and his vehicle and approached him, detecting a strong odor of alcohol and finding a handgun in between the center console and the front passenger seat.  Long was arrested for alcohol intoxication and a further search of his vehicle found five loaded firearms.

An investigation then revealed that Long has an active Domestic Violence Order, from Scott County, Kentucky, that was issued on April 20, 2022 and effective for three years.

“The defendant was in possession of several loaded firearms, despite the fact he was subject to a domestic violence protective order, a dangerous and potentially deadly combination,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  “The critical teamwork of several law enforcement partners will now hold him accountable for his violation of federal law, and will inspire our combined efforts to make our communities safer.”

“Outcomes like this clearly show the continued importance of collaboration in protecting Kentucky families,” said Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General.  “I’m proud of our colleagues from the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) who worked with federal and local law enforcement to apprehend this dangerous suspect before he could further harm our Commonwealth.”

United States Attorney Shier; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Attorney General Coleman; and Chief Kyle Rader, Erlanger Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea.          

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, and Erlanger Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Leonhard is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. 

Long is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25, 2025.  He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.  However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV announced today that, in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky collected more than $20 million for crime victims and taxpayers, and also obtained civil settlements totaling more than $20 million through its affirmative civil enforcement efforts.

“Our enforcement of the law includes pursuing restitution for victims of crime, recovering illegally obtained funds, and protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud, waste, and abuse,” said United States Attorney Shier.  “These collection and enforcement results demonstrate our commitment to these critical goals. I want to commend the dedicated personnel in our Office, for their persistent efforts on behalf of victims and for safeguarding our taxpayer funds.”

In fiscal year 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office collected $14,299,361.43 through its Financial Litigation Program.  This Program is responsible for collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States, and criminal restitution debts owed to federal crime victims who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss.  While criminal restitution is paid to victims, criminal fines and assessments are paid to the Department of Justice’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

Additionally, due to successful asset forfeitures in fiscal year 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office secured $4,161,490 for federal law enforcement efforts, shared $1,508,364 with state and local law enforcement agencies, and restored $472,830 to crime victims.  In asset forfeiture actions, the United States seizes money and property that were proceeds of crime or used in furtherance of a crime.  Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund are used for a variety of law enforcement purposes. Funds shared with state and local agencies reflect the degree of their participation in law enforcement efforts resulting in forfeiture. When money or property is forfeited by a defendant who also owes restitution, the Office can ask that the value of the forfeited property be paid to the victim to make him or her whole.

The Office’s Civil Division also protects the interests of the United States in cases involving property on which the government holds a lien.  In fiscal year 2024, the Office collected $1,382,137.49 on behalf of taxpayers in such cases.

Finally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement program obtained civil settlements and judgments valued at $20,078,263.98.  Over $19.7 million of this amount were obtained through enforcement of the False Claims Act, which is a federal law that imposes treble damages and penalties on those who knowingly and falsely claim money from the United States.  The False Claims Act thus serves to safeguard government programs that provide health insurance, support American businesses and workers, offer disaster and other emergency relief, and provide many other critical services and benefits. More than $300,000 of the settlements represent civil penalties paid by healthcare providers who violated the Controlled Substances Act, a federal law that aims to protect the public’s health and safety from dangers posed by highly addictive or dangerous controlled substances that are diverted into the illicit market. The remainder of these settlements result from penalties and compensatory damages paid for violations of the American with Disabilities Act, a federal law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination in many areas of public life.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., woman, Abigail Hall, 51, pleaded guilty on Monday, before U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to tampering with a consumer product.    

According to her plea agreement, between January 2023 and August 2023, Hall worked as a contract registered nurse at several facilities in Kentucky, including a health care facility in Lawrenceburg, Ky., that focused on care for the elderly and infirm. Then, on August 27, 2023, Hall took morphine that had been prescribed for three patients that she was treating at the healthcare facility, all of whom had significant disease and pain concerns. Hall replaced the stolen morphine with water and blue food coloring, to resemble the real medication.  Ultimately, Hall took at least seven syringes of stolen morphine and administered the tampered morphine to one of the patients.

“Instead of actually caring for the patients in her charge – patients who needed their pain medication – she stole their medicine and even administered fake medicine to one of them,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  “Her conduct was as disgraceful as it was deceptive and callous. Fortunately, through the hard work of our law enforcement partners, she will now face the consequences of her profound betrayal.”

“Patients suffering from pain trust their health care providers to provide relief through effective and appropriately dosed medications,” said Special Agent in Charge George A. Scavdis, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office.  “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice healthcare professionals who violate their position of trust and jeopardize patients’ health and well-being by tampering with their pain medications.”

United States Attorney Shier and Special Agent in Charge Scavdis, jointly announced the guilty plea. 

The investigation was conducted by FDA-OCI.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. 

Hall is scheduled to be sentenced on March 24, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.  She faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and may be ordered to pay restitution and fines.  However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Nicholasville, Ky., man, Billy Wilkins, 44, was sentenced on Wednesday, to 360 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, following his convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by convicted felon.

According to evidence presented at his trial, on November 4, 2021, in Nicholasville, law enforcement with the DEA and Jessamine County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant on a residence occupied by Wilkins.  Inside the residence, officers located large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as two firearms and multiple rounds of ammunition.  A third firearm was later recovered under the residence’s crawl space.  During the investigation, officers also confirmed that Wilkins was a convicted felon, with multiple prior Kentucky drug trafficking convictions. 

Under federal law, Wilkins must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years. 

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Kevin Grimes, Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

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A Kentucky man was sentenced today to 100 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release and restitution of $21,000 to each of the three victims for three counts of sexual abuse of a ward.

According to his plea agreement, from Sept. 5, 2020, to Dec. 21, 2020, Jacob Salcido, 40, of Lexington, while employed as a correctional officer at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, knowingly engaged in sexual acts with three inmates. Salcido admitted that, based on his training and experience, he was aware that any sexual contact between FMC staff and inmates was strictly forbidden and constituted a criminal offense.

“Jacob Salcido exploited his power as a correctional officer by sexually abusing three women in his custody,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “This conviction and significant sentence reflect the Justice Department’s commitment to eradicating sexual abuse in federal prisons, bringing to justice those who violate the public trust by abusing those in their custody.”

“Salcido’s duty as a Correctional Officer was to foster a safe and humane environment for inmates,”said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz. “Instead, Salcido sexually abused three inmates in his custody and care. Salcido’s lengthy prison sentence sends a clear message that federal Correctional Officers who abuse inmates will be brought to justice.”

“Instead of securing and caring for those in his custody, the defendant preyed on vulnerable individuals and betrayed an important public charge,” said U.S Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This despicable conduct has done enduring damage to his victims.  And beyond that, when public officials act with such disregard for those in their care, it erodes faith in all law enforcement.  We will continue our efforts to protect these individuals, and to combat abuses by those violating the public trust.”

The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General and FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted the case.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons is committed to rooting out misconduct within its ranks and working with law enforcement partners to prosecute violations of federal law. The numerous FBOP employees working diligently to ensure justice for the victims of misconduct are critical to the department’s reform efforts.

LONDON, Ky. – A former Manchester Police Department officer, Shawn Curry, 36, was sentenced on Wednesday, to 18 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for deprivation of rights under color of law.

According to his plea agreement, on September 3, 2021, Curry was on duty and acting as a police officer with the Manchester Police Department.  He and other officers were made aware of a 911 call from a pool hall outside the Manchester city limits, indicating that someone was fighting the owner of the pool hall and would not leave.  Curry and two other officers arrived at the pool hall and encountered the owner, who was holding a pool stick, and the victim, who was fighting with the owner. The owner ran away from Curry, who then tased him in the back and used force on him.

 After his use of force on the owner, Curry went into an adjoining room, where other officers were attempting to arrest the victim.  Instead of attempting to place handcuffs on the victim, Curry grabbed the victim’s hair and delivered five blows to his head and face.  Curry admitted to knowing from his training and experience that this use of force was unreasonable and unlawful, but he used the unlawful force anyway.

When interviewed later, Curry knowingly lied to law enforcement, falsely telling them that he hit the victim in the shoulder and claiming he only made incidental contact with the victim’s face once, by accident.  Curry also omitted any mention of his use of force on the owner of the pool hall or the victim in his incident report and use of force memorandum, even though he knew he was required to report them. 

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General and the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo and Trial Attorney Tara Allison from the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

– END –

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Shelbyville man, Jeremy Wayne Harrell, 43, was sentenced on Monday to 6 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, for theft of government benefits.

According to evidence at his trial, Harrell intentionally stole money from the United States, namely U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Individual Unemployability (IU) disability payments that he was not entitled to receive.

Specifically, the evidence presented at trial indicated that Harrell was initially awarded IU benefits in 2011.  In 2019, Harrell then founded Veterans Club, Inc., and he served as the Founder and CEO of the organization.  The evidence showed that Harrell had a high level of work activity for Veterans Club, from 2019 through 2023.  This included working 40-60 hours per week, actively running the organization, organizing events, managing over $400,000 in assets and approximately 6,000 volunteers, engaging in news media interviews, appearing on podcasts, appearing and speaking at community events, meeting with business and political leaders, teaching classes, accepting donations, among other work.  This evidence confirmed that Harrell, as the active and successful Founder and CEO of Veterans Club, could maintain substantial gainful employment, rendering him ineligible to receive the IU benefits that he received from 2019 through 2023.  Additionally, the evidence showed that Harrell made numerous false statements to the government about his daily life and work activities, depicting himself as withdrawn, without the ability to perform work, leading a highly restricted life, and rarely leaving his home; when in truth, he was an active and successful CEO of a vibrant organization.  The evidence confirmed Harrell made these false representations to the government to depict himself as unemployable, conceal his active role as CEO of an organization, and attempt to continue to receive IU benefits.  In total, Harrell wrongfully received more than $128,000 in IU benefits.

Upon his release from prison, Harrell will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for one year, six months of which will be spent on home detention.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Chapman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

– END –

ASHLAND, Ky. – An Ashland man, Dennis Hall, 49, was sentenced on Monday, to 130 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of 50 gram or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to his plea agreement, on March 4, 2024, law enforcement observed a vehicle speeding and executed a traffic stop on the vehicle.  The driver of the vehicle had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and the passenger, Hall, also had a warrant for his arrest.  A search of the vehicle revealed a bag of 71.5 grams of methamphetamine located between Hall’s legs.  Additionally, officers located a loaded firearm between the passenger seat and center console.  Hall admitted that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Hall had previously been convicted of burglary second degree in Greenup Circuit Court in 2012.  

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief William Todd Kelley, Ashland Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by ATF and the Ashland Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts.  In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

– END –

ASHLAND, Ky. – An Ashland man, Walter Sherman Thomas, 43, was sentenced on Monday, to 240 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of child pornography. 

According to his plea agreement, a cyber tip led law enforcement to a Reddit account that was reported for uploading child sexual abuse material.  Law enforcement searched the Reddit account and found several sexually explicit images of minors.  Additionally, a Reddit chat, that detailed the user’s employment, lead law enforcement to identify Thomas as the owner of the account.  Law enforcement interviewed Thomas and searched his phones, which contained 205 sexually explicit images and 87 sexually explicit videos of minors. 

Under federal law, Thomas must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 25 years.

 Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief William Todd Kelley, Ashland Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Ashland Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

– END –

LEXINGTON, Ky.—The United States has reached an agreement with Frankfort Regional Medical Center (“FRMC”), a 173-bed acute care facility located in Frankfort, Ky., to resolve allegations that FRMC violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), by failing to ensure effective communication with a deaf patient who uses American Sign Language (“ASL”).

At multiple hospital visits during her pregnancy, FRMC failed to provide the patient with an ASL interpreter or other effective means of communication.  Additionally, despite her request for an in-person interpreter during her labor and delivery, the patient had to provide her own interpreter for her cesarean section.  FRMC also failed to ensure effective communication during the patient’s recovery stay, and during a subsequent hospital visit when she sought treatment for her infant.  Moreover, FRMC failed to provide an interpreter or other appropriate auxiliary aids and services to the patient’s mother, who is also deaf and was attending the patient’s labor and delivery as a support person.  FRMC cooperated fully with the United States’ investigation of this matter, which substantiated the patient’s allegations.

Under the terms of its agreement with the United States, FRMC will modify its policies and practices consistent with the ADA, including those that address providing effective communication and securing qualified interpreters for patients; will train its staff and inform affiliated medical providers about the policies; will report any future complaints; and will cooperate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure ongoing compliance.  FRMC also will pay a $62,500 civil penalty to the United States, $100,000 to the patient, and $10,000 to her mother.

“It is critical that patients who are deaf or hard of hearing have equal access to health care, which includes having the ability to communicate with their health care providers,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV.  “This settlement reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting the rights of those who are deaf or hard of hearing and ensuring that they are able to effectively participate in discussions and decisions regarding their health care.”

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Pond and investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Section, in coordination with the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination or experienced a civil rights violation by a place of public accommodation or public entity in Eastern Kentucky can submit a complaint to the U.S. Attorney’s Office by email at usakye.civilrights@usdoj.gov or by phone to the Civil Rights Hotline at (859) 685-4880.

For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/civil-rights.  More information about the ADA is available at the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information line at (800) 514 0301 or (800) 514 0383 (TTY) and on the ADA website at www.ada.gov.

– END –

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – A Jonancy, Ky., woman, Sasha Adkins, 37, was sentenced on Thursday, to 135 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to her plea agreement, on June 16, 2023, law enforcement seized approximately 360 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 28 grams of fentanyl, $4,975 in cash, and 12 firearms, from Adkins’ residence.  Adkins possessed the methamphetamine and fentanyl and intended to distribute the drugs. 

Under federal law, Adkins must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence.  Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. 

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; and Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and KSP.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

– END –

LEXINGTON, Ky. – United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV honored several federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals on Wednesday, for their outstanding contributions to investigations and prosecutions in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

The Office’s 2024 Law Enforcement Excellence Awards were presented during a ceremony at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lexington, and recognized exceptional work in a number of cases involving Office priority areas, including violent crime, drug trafficking, overdose deaths, elder fraud, COVID fraud, government fraud, public corruption, and child exploitation.

“We simply cannot effectively prosecute federal crimes without the dedicated and difficult work of our investigative partners in law enforcement,” said United States Attorney Shier.  “These recipients were each nominated by our prosecutors, for their tireless, invaluable, and noteworthy efforts in a number of significant, complex, and difficult cases.  We are pleased to recognize their exceptional efforts; we commend them for their dedication to public safety; and we sincerely thank them for their critical assistance in helping us successfully prosecute these impactful cases.”

The following law enforcement officers and organizations were honored:

• Jeff Price, Special Agent, ATF
• Bill Brislin, Detective, Georgetown Police Department; Task Force Officer, DEA
• Steve McCown, Detective, Lexington Police Department; Task Force Officer, ATF
• Paul Megilligan, Detective, Danville Police Department
• Mike Hughes, Diversion Investigator, DEA
• Jared Sullivan, Special Agent, DEA
• Chelsea Holliday, Special Agent, FBI
• Zachary Bryson, Detective, Kentucky State Police; Task Force Officer, FBI
• Eric Long, Forensic Examiner, Kentucky Office of Attorney General; Task Force Officer, U.S. Secret Service
• Jason Jarvis, Special Agent, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
• Remington Schilling, Special Agent, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General

– END –

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – A Salyersville, Ky., man, Daniel Jackson, 57, was sentenced on Thursday, to 97 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, following his conviction for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to evidence presented at his trial, on February 7, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by Jackson.  During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement located and seized over 70 grams of methamphetamine.  Jackson then attempted to discard a bag of fentanyl, in the police car, after his arrest. 

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and William “Bill” Meade, Magoffin County Sheriff, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the Magoffin County Sheriff’s Office, and Operation UNITE.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

– END –

LONDON, Ky. – A Louisville man, Nathan Cole, 28, was sentenced on Tuesday to 10 years in prison, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution of 40 grams of more of a mixture containing fentanyl. 

According to his plea agreement, on April 21, 2023, Cole sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a restaurant in London.  Cole sold the informant 1,000 pills containing fentanyl and weighing approximately 111 grams .  Cole also sold the informant 237 grams of methamphetamine. 

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

– END –

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, James Allen Brown, 26, was sentenced on Wednesday, to 165 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for the distribution of child pornography. 

According to his plea agreement, from June 2022 to March 2023, Brown used multiple Instagram accounts to send and receive child sexual abuse material.  Law enforcement also located evidence of sexually explicit depictions of minors stored on Brown’s cell phone and accessed on a cloud storage system.  During an interview, Brown admitted to law enforcement that he used Instagram and Telegram to trade child pornography with others.  

Under federal law, Brown must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years. 

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

– END –

The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against Joseph E. Johnson, also known as Joe Johnson, the owner and operator of rental properties in Lexington, Kentucky, for engaging in sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

“For decades, this landlord used his position of power to sexually harass vulnerable women who simply wanted roofs over their heads,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Women should not live in fear when they pay their rent or seek repairs. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce the Fair Housing Act’s prohibition on this conduct.”

“Sexual harassment in housing deprives its victims of the safety and security that a home is supposed to provide,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “That makes compelling enforcement of the Fair Housing Act critical to ensuring that victims can gain relief from such inexcusable conduct and seek a safe and secure home for their families.”

The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky alleges that, for decades, Johnson has sexually harassed numerous female tenants. According to the complaint, Johnson has offered housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual contact, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, subjected female tenants to unwelcome touching and groping, taken adverse housing-related actions against female tenants who refused his sexual advances and failed to act when made aware of similar harassing behavior by one or more of his employees.

The lawsuit, which is the result of a joint investigative effort of the Justice Department with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Office of Inspector General, seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, a civil penalty against the defendant to vindicate the public interest and a court order barring future discrimination.

“It is unacceptable for landlords to threaten or commit sexual harassment or abuse against tenants,” said HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis. “The defendant allegedly preyed upon vulnerable tenants and retaliated against them when they spurned his sexual advances. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold housing providers accountable for this type of horrible conduct.”

The Justice Department launched its Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative in October 2017. The initiative, which is led by the Civil Rights Division in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or others who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the Justice Department has filed 47 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing, recovering damages and civil penalties from those violating the law.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by Joe Johnson, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, should contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-833-591-0291, select 1 for English and select option number 2 then option number 00 to leave a message. To leave a message in Spanish, select 2 for Spanish, and select option number 1 and then option number 00 to leave a message. Individuals may also email the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov or submit a report online. Reports also may be made by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.

El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha entablado una demanda contra Joseph E. Johnson, también conocido como Joe Johnson, propietario y operador de propiedades de alquiler en Lexington, Kentucky, por acoso sexual y represalias, en contra de la ley de Vivienda Justa.

“Durante décadas, este propietario utilizó su posición de poder para acosar sexualmente a mujeres vulnerables que simplemente querían un techo sobre su cabeza”, afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “Las mujeres no deben vivir con miedo cuando pagan su alquiler o buscan reparaciones. El Departamento de Justicia continuará haciendo cumplir con firmeza la prohibición de esta conducta en virtud de la ley de Vivienda Justa”.

“El acoso sexual en la vivienda priva a sus víctimas de la seguridad que se supone que una casa les debe proporcionar”, declaró Carlton S. Shier, IV, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Este de Kentucky. “Esto hace que la aplicación convincente de la ley de Vivienda Justa sea fundamental para garantizar que las víctimas puedan obtener compensación por esta conducta tan imperdonable y buscar un hogar seguro para sus familias”.

La demanda, presentada en el Tribunal Federal de Distrito para el Distrito Este de Kentucky, alega que durante décadas, Johnson ha acosado sexualmente a numerosas inquilinas. De acuerdo con la queja, Johnson ha ofrecido beneficios relacionados con la vivienda a cambio de contacto sexual, ha hecho comentarios y avances sexuales no deseados a inquilinas, ha sometido a inquilinas a contacto y manoseo no deseados y ha tomado medidas adversas relacionadas con la vivienda contra inquilinas que rechazaron sus insinuaciones sexuales y no tomó ninguna medida correctiva al enterarse de conductas acosadoras por parte de uno o más de sus empleados.

La demanda, que es el resultado de un esfuerzo de investigación conjunto del Departamento de Justicia con la Oficina del Inspector General del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (HUD, por sus siglas en inglés), busca daños monetarios para compensar a las personas perjudicadas por el supuesto acoso, una sanción civil contra el demandado para vindicar el interés público y una orden judicial que prohíbe la discriminación futura.

“Es inaceptable que los propietarios amenacen con o cometan actos de acoso sexual o abuso contra las inquilinas”, dijo la Inspectora General del HUD, Rae Oliver Davis. “El demandado supuestamente se aprovechó de inquilinas vulnerables y tomó represalias contra ellas cuando rechazaron sus insinuaciones sexuales. Mi oficina continuará trabajando con nuestros socios de aplicación de la ley para responsabilizar a los proveedores de vivienda por este tipo de conducta horrible”.

El Departamento de Justicia lanzó su Iniciativa contra el acoso sexual en la vivienda en octubre del 2017. La iniciativa, dirigida por la División de Derechos Civiles en coordinación con las Fiscalías Federales por todo el país, busca abordar y aumentar la concientización sobre el acoso sexual por parte de propietarios, administradores de propiedades, trabajadores de mantenimiento, oficiales de préstamos u otras personas que tienen control sobre la vivienda. Desde el lanzamiento de la iniciativa, el Departamento de Justicia ha presentado 47 demandas que alegan acoso sexual en la vivienda, así recuperando daños y sanciones civiles de aquellos que infringen la ley.

La ley de Vivienda Justa prohíbe la discriminación en las viviendas por motivos de raza, color de piel, religión, nacionalidad, sexo, discapacidad y situación familiar. Hay más información sobre la División de Derechos Civiles y las leyes que hace cumplir en su sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt.

Aquellas personas que crean que pueden haber sido víctimas de acoso sexual u otros tipos de discriminación en la vivienda en viviendas de alquiler de los que Joe Johnson es propietario o administrador, o que tienen otra información que puede ser relevante para este caso, deben comunicarse con la línea informativa para discriminación en la vivienda al 1-833-591-0291, seleccionar 1 para inglés y seleccionar la opción número 2 y luego la opción número 00 para dejar un mensaje. Para dejar un mensaje en español, hay que seleccionar 2 para español, seleccionar la opción número 1 y luego la opción número 009 para dejar un mensaje. También se puede enviar un correo electrónico al Departamento de Justicia a fairhousing@usdoj.gov o entregar un informe en línea. Los informes también se pueden realizar comunicándose con el HUD al 1-800-669-9777 o rellenando una queja en línea.

COVINGTON, Ky. – A Newport, Ky., man, Antonio Fox, 37, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Friday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

According to Fox’s plea agreement, on May 23, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Fox’s vehicle.  Upon searching the vehicle, law enforcement found a loaded gun with an extra, loaded magazine.  Fox admitted that he possessed the firearm and he knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm, because he had previously been convicted of a felony.

Fox was previously convicted of two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm or ammunition by a felon, in 2019, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in 2010.

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Brian Valenti, Covington Police Department, announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Covington Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Spievack is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

— END —

LONDON, Ky. – A London, Ky., man, Kenneth Dodd, 33, was sentenced to 76 months in prison on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for the distribution of methamphetamine and the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to his plea agreement, on September 14, 2023, law enforcement received information that Dodd was a source of supply for methamphetamine in Laurel County.  Law enforcement utilized two confidential informants to make controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Dodd.  During one of these controlled buys, Dodd also sold a firearm to the informant; the firearm was later determined to be stolen.

As a convicted felon, Dodd was prohibited from possessing a firearm. He previously pleaded guilty in 2020 to making materially false statements to a federal agent and cyberstalking.

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Chief Jerry Hollon, London Police Department; and Sheriff John Root, Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the ATF, London Police Department, and Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, as part of the Laurel County Drug Interdiction Task Force.

— END —

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Frankfort attorney, Brian Logan, 50, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, before U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to wire fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering.    

According to court documents, Logan prepared a will for a client in August 2018.  After the client passed away, Logan was appointed executor of the client’s estate, which included real property and cash.  The will directed that the majority of the estate’s assets be distributed among certain charities.  Instead, Logan transferred $239,600 from the estate bank account to his personal bank accounts in a series of transactions from October 10, 2018, to August 31, 2023.  Logan then used these funds for personal expenses, including to make payments on his credit card.

Logan also used fraudulent transactions to transfer the ownership of the estate’s real property to himself.  Using his role as executor, he caused the estate to conduct a fictitious transaction selling the property to a friend, then effected a second fictitious transaction causing the friend to sell the property to an entity Logan owned.  In each transaction, Logan forged the friend’s name and signature on the deeds.  Logan then collected rent on the property for nearly six years, using the funds to make payments on personal credit cards.

In addition, Logan submitted fraudulent documents to a bank in connection with a loan application for the property.  He provided the bank with one of the forged deeds and a fraudulent lease that again used his friend’s name and forged signature.  Logan used the loan proceeds, totaling $116,000, for his personal benefit.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Robert Holman, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service; and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the guilty plea. 

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. 

Logan is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5, 2025.  He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, and may be ordered to pay restitution and fines. 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- Four individuals, Delores Jordan, 56, of Charlotte, NC, Dashawn Dawkins, 33, of Lexington, Ky., Jerome Davis, 51, of Indianapolis, Ind., and Ernest Williams, 51, of Lexington, Ky., have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, and conspiracy to receive kickbacks.        

According to the indictment, Serenity Keeper’s, LLC (“Serenity Keepers”) was a sober home company based in Fayette County, Ky., that purported to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services and housing for individuals enrolled in its program.  Serenity Keepers allegedly used urine drug tests for their clients for non-medical reasons, such as ensuring sobriety.  The indictment alleges that beginning in August 2019, Jordan, Serenity Keepers’ owner, solicited kickbacks from a co-conspirator in exchange for the referral of Serenity Keepers’ urine drug tests to various laboratories.  The kickbacks were allegedly paid in the form of checks, cash payments, and wire transfers of approximately $1,300 every two weeks to Jordan’s son, Dawkins.  Beginning in October 2021, Jordan allegedly demanded the kickback amount increase to $5,000, based on the increased volume of urine drug tests referred by Serenity Keepers to the labs.  Jordan allegedly received the increased amount through payments sent every two weeks to her boyfriend, Davis, paid through his company, X-Tremly for Christ LLC.

The indictment also alleges that the urine drug tests performed for Serenity Keepers’ clients were not used for medical diagnosis and treatment, nor were they ordered by a treating medical provider, which are requirements for reimbursement by Medicare and Medicaid.  According to the indictment, the medical providers who signed orders for urine drug tests were allegedly not providing any treatment to Serenity Keepers’ clients for addiction, nor were they reviewing the results of the tests.  The indictment alleges that Jordan, Dawkins, and Williams conspired to defraud Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid by causing approximately $26.7 million in these medically unnecessary urine drug tests to be fraudulently billed to Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid from August 2019 to March 2022.

In addition, the indictment alleges that Jordan, Dawkins, and Williams further defrauded Kentucky Medicaid by causing Serenity Keepers to fraudulently bill for peer support services.  Between August 2019 and February 2022, Serenity Keepers allegedly billed Medicaid for six hours of peer support services per day, for every client enrolled in their program who had Medicaid coverage.  The indictment alleges that a majority of the services billed were not provided by registered peer support specialists, not supervised by appropriate personnel, not provided at all, or not provided in accordance with state regulations governing such services.           

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the indictment.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky Attorney General, Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse.  The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith.

Dawkins, Davis, and Williams’ initial appearances have already been held.  Jordan’s initial appearance is scheduled for December 4.  Jordan, Dawkins, and Williams each face a maximum of 10 years in prison, and Davis faces a maximum of 5 years in prison. They each face a $250,000 fine, plus any restitution determined by the Court.  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.                                                                              

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The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against Adnan Shalash, the owner and operator of rental properties in Lexington, Kentucky, for engaging in sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The lawsuit also names as defendants 12 owners of rental properties managed by Adnan Shalash, including Fox Den Properties LLC and Griffith Market Inc.

“Sexual harassment by housing providers is an egregious abuse of power,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Women should never feel unsafe in their own homes. The Justice Department is committed to vigorously protecting the rights of vulnerable tenants subjected to sexual harassment and holding housing providers and managers accountable when they violate the law.”

“Sexual harassment in housing deprives its victims of the safety and security that a home is supposed to provide them,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “That makes committed enforcement of the Fair Housing Act critical to ensuring that victims can gain relief from this shameful conduct and seek a safe and secure home for their families.”

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, alleges that for many years Shalash has sexually harassed numerous female tenants. According to the complaint, Shalash has offered housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual contact, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, entered the homes of female tenants without their permission, subjected female tenants to unwelcome touching and groping and taken adverse housing-related actions against female tenants who refused his sexual advances.

The lawsuit, which is the result of a joint investigative effort of the Justice Department with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Office of Inspector General, seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, a civil penalty against each defendant to vindicate the public interest and a court order barring future discrimination.

“My office will not tolerate landlords committing sexual harassment or abuse against tenants,” said HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis. “Adnan Shalash allegedly preyed upon vulnerable tenants’ basic human need for housing. Today’s complaint demonstrates the HUD Office of Inspector General’s commitment to stop landlords who abuse their power over vulnerable tenants and ensuring that victims of their sexual harassment obtain relief.”

The Justice Department launched its Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative in October 2017. The initiative, which is led by the Civil Rights Division in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or others who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the Justice Department has filed 46 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing, recovering damages and civil penalties from those violating the law.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by Adnan Shalash, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, should contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line, at 1-833-591-0291, select 1 for English and select option number 2 then option number 04 to leave a message. To leave a message in Spanish, select 2 for Spanish, and select option number 1 and then option number 9 to leave a message. Individuals may also email the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov or submit a report online. Reports also may be made by contacting the HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.

El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha entablado una demanda contra Adnan Shalash, propietario y operador de propiedades de alquiler en Lexington, Kentucky, por acoso sexual y represalias, en violación de la ley de Vivienda Justa. La demanda también nombra como demandados a 12 propietarios de propiedades de alquiler administradas por Adnan Shalash, incluidas Fox Den Properties LLC y Griffith Market Inc.

“El acoso sexual por parte de los proveedores de viviendas es un abuso de poder atroz”, afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “Las mujeres nunca deben sentirse inseguras en sus propios hogares. El Departamento de Justicia se compromete a proteger activamente los derechos de inquilinas vulnerables sujetas al acoso sexual y a responsabilizar a los proveedores y administradores de vivienda cuando infrinjan la ley”.

“El acoso sexual en la vivienda priva a sus víctimas de la seguridad y protección que se supone que una casa les debe proporcionar”, declaró Carlton S. Shier, IV el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Este de Kentucky. “Esto hace que la aplicación comprometida de la ley de Vivienda Justa sea fundamental para garantizar que las víctimas puedan obtener compensación por esta conducta vergonzosa y buscar un hogar seguro para sus familias”.

La demanda, presentada en el Tribunal Federal de Distrito para el Distrito Este de Kentucky, alega que durante muchos años Shalash ha acosado sexualmente a numerosas inquilinas. De acuerdo con la queja, Shalash ha ofrecido beneficios relacionados con la vivienda a cambio de contacto sexual, ha hecho comentarios y avances sexuales no deseados a inquilinas, ha entrado en las casas de inquilinas sin su permiso, ha sometido a inquilinas a contacto y manoseo no deseados y ha tomado medidas adversas relacionadas con la vivienda contra inquilinas que rechazaron sus insinuaciones sexuales.

La demanda, que es el resultado de un esfuerzo de investigación conjunto del Departamento de Justicia con la Oficina del Inspector General del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (HUD, por sus siglas en inglés), busca daños monetarios para compensar a las personas perjudicadas por el supuesto acoso, una sanción civil contra cada demandado para reivindicar el interés público y una orden judicial que prohíbe la discriminación futura.

“Mi oficina no tolerará que propietarios cometan actos de acoso o abuso sexual contra las inquilinas”, dijo la Inspectora General del HUD, Rae Oliver Davis. “Adnan Shalash supuestamente abusó de la necesidad humana básica de vivienda de inquilinas vulnerables. La queja de hoy demuestra el compromiso de la Oficina del Inspector General del HUD de detener a los propietarios que abusan de su poder sobre inquilinas vulnerables y garantizar que las víctimas de su acoso sexual obtengan una compensación”.

El Departamento de Justicia lanzó su Iniciativa contra el acoso sexual en la vivienda en octubre del 2017. La iniciativa, dirigida por la División de Derechos Civiles en coordinación con las Fiscalías Federales por todo el país, busca abordar y aumentar la concientización sobre el acoso sexual por parte de propietarios, administradores de propiedades, trabajadores de mantenimiento, oficiales de préstamos u otras personas que tienen control sobre la vivienda. Desde el lanzamiento de la iniciativa, el Departamento de Justicia ha presentado 46 demandas que alegan acoso sexual en la vivienda, así recuperando daños y sanciones civiles de aquellos que infringen la ley.

La ley de Vivienda Justa prohíbe la discriminación en las viviendas por motivos de raza, color de piel, religión, origen nacional, sexo, discapacidad y situación familiar. Hay más información sobre la División de Derechos Civiles y las leyes que hace cumplir en su sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt.

Aquellas personas que crean que pueden haber sido víctimas de acoso sexual u otros tipos de discriminación en la vivienda en viviendas de alquiler de los que Adnan Shalash es propietario o administrador, o que tienen otra información que puede ser relevante para este caso, deben comunicarse con la línea informativa para discriminación en la vivienda al 1-833-591-0291, seleccionar 1 para inglés y seleccionar la opción número 2 y luego la opción número 04 para dejar un mensaje. Para dejar un mensaje en español, hay que seleccionar 2 para español, seleccionar la opción número 1 y luego la opción número 9 para dejar un mensaje. También se puede enviar un correo electrónico al Departamento de Justicia a fairhousing@usdoj.gov o entregar un informe en línea. Los informes también se pueden realizar comunicándose con el HUD al 1-800-669-9777 o rellenando una queja en línea.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., man, Cameron Spencer, 34, was sentenced to 262 months in prison on Monday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to his plea agreement, on February 19, 2022, Spencer made a same-day reservation for an Air BnB rental property, with a check-out time of approximately 11 a.m. the next morning. During Spencer’s reservation, multiple people were observed, via recorded video footage, entering the property. At some point during the reservation, an alert of Spencer’s presence in the backyard was sent to the homeowners. Spencer was observed, via video footage, digging in the backyard of the rental property.

After Spencer checked out of the property, a bag of narcotics was found in the area where Spencer was observed digging. Additional items consistent with drug trafficking were also found, including a hydraulic press, a blender, and bags.  Spencer was located near the rental property, and law enforcement found $2,295 in cash on his person and in his vehicle.  Spencer admitted to possessing the 226.15 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute it.

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Lexington Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paco Villalobos and Brittany Baker are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Tevye Tyshear Shelton Jones, 26, was found guilty on Thursday, by a federal jury sitting in Lexington, of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and felon in possession of a firearm.  He was found guilty following a two-day trial.

According to the evidence at trial, on November 30, 2023, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle that was registered to someone with a suspended driver’s license.  The vehicle briefly stopped before accelerating through a red light and eventually colliding with a light pole.  After the collision, the vehicle’s occupants began kicking the vehicle’s windshield to exit, and two people exited the vehicle and fled.  Jones was the third occupant of the vehicle; and as he was attempting to exit the vehicle, a loaded gun fell onto the ground.  He attempted to pick the gun up but was apprehended.

A search of Jones’ person revealed four cell phones, $350 in cash, and a fanny pack with a loaded, extended firearm magazine, and 57.8 grams of fentanyl (of which at least 32.642 grams also contained methamphetamine and cocaine.  A search of the vehicle revealed a stolen pistol; and when the two occupants that originally fled were apprehended, a third firearm was recovered.  Jones possessed the controlled substances with intent to distribute them and he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.

Evidence further showed that Jones had prior felony convictions, which prohibited him from possessing a firearm. Jones had prior convictions for robbery in the second degree, from Fayette Circuit Court in June 2017, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, from the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky in February 2020.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Kathy Witt, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany Baker and Todd Bradbury are representing the United States in the case.

Jones is scheduled to appear for sentencing on February 27, 2025.  He faces up to life in prison.  However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence. 

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts.  In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

— END —

LONDON, Ky. – A Woodbine, Ky., man, William H. Nantz, 66, was sentenced to 63 months in prison on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for retaliation against a witness.  This is his second conviction involving threats to a federal law enforcement agent.

On March 21, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Daniel Nantz with methamphetamine trafficking.  Then, on July 24, 2019, a superseding indictment added charges against Daniel Nantz, including murder with the intent to obstruct justice related to his drug trafficking.  William Nantz is the father of Daniel Nantz.

Thereafter, on October 2, 2021, William Nantz made a threat against the lead case agent investigating his son’s murder case, to one of the agent’s neighbors.  Ultimately, the elder Nantz pled guilty to retaliation against a witness for this initial threat; and as part of his sentencing on that initial charge, the agent submitted a victim impact statement, describing the impact the threat had on he and his family.  On October 11, 2022, the elder Nantz was sentenced to 70 months in prison.  The day after his sentence was imposed on that initial charge, October 12, 2022, Nantz again threatened the agent, during a recorded video jail call.  This time he threatened to sexually assault and murder the agent.  In the recorded call, the elder Nantz referenced his agitation with the content of the victim impact statement.  And, in conversations that followed the call Nantz reinforced his threats, referencing his desire to “take care of” the agent upon his release from prison.  Nantz eventually pled guilty to this second threat as well.

Nantz’s 63 months sentence for this second threat will run consecutively with his previous sentence of 70 months for the first threat.  Under federal law, Nantz must serve 85 percent of his prison sentences.  Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.

“The brazen disregard for the victims and the law in this case is nothing short of appalling,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  “Just a day after receiving an initial federal prison sentence, the defendant issued more threats.  This case reminds us of the dangers and sacrifices law enforcement personnel face, on a daily basis, while protecting and serving our communities. Fortunately, it now also serves as a warning to those who issue such threats:  you face significant prison sentences for your conduct.”

“This case highlights the dangers our public officials face every day,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division.  “Law enforcement, and our judicial system, must never waiver even when threatened with violence or facing danger.  The ATF London office and the entire investigative team should be commended for their work seeking justice for Ms. Johnson, and for not being deterred by William Nantz’s persistent threats.  We’re thankful for our investigative partners and for the United States Attorney’s Office for ensuring William Nantz was held accountable.”

United States Attorney Shier and ATF SAC Morrow, jointly announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the ATF.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

— END —

LONDON, Ky. – A Hagerhill, Ky., man, Gary Warick, 58, was sentenced to 120 months in prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, following convictions for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to evidence presented at his trial, on April 26, 2022 and again on May 3, 2022, law enforcement in Johnson County made two controlled purchases of methamphetamine involving Warick. Thereafter, on May 4, 2022, execution of a search warrant on Warick’s residence uncovered additional methamphetamine.  Collectively, the purchases and search resulted in the seizure of more than 130 grams of methamphetamine. Warick had previously been convicted of felony trafficking in a controlled substance, in 2010.

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; and Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and KSP.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

— END —

LONDON, Ky. – A Lynch, Ky., man, Steven Wayne Williams, 41, was sentenced to 180 months in prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more methamphetamine.

According to his plea agreement, from December 2021 to August 31, 2022, Williams conspired with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.  Specifically, Williams was part of a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that involved the importation or multiple kilos of a mixture of methamphetamine from Georgia, into Harlan County and other counties in Kentucky.  Williams served as the “point man” for the source of supply in Georgia, and arranged for his co-conspirator Lawrence Lucas to travel to Georgia and return with several kilos of the drugs for distribution in Kentucky.

Under federal law, Williams must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA and KSP.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

— END —

LONDON, KY– A Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) lieutenant at U.S. Penitentiary (USP) McCreary, in Pine Knot, Kentucky, was indicted on Thursday by a federal grand jury in London, Kentucky, for federal civil rights violations, including violating an individual’s rights under the color of law, falsifying records to impede an investigation, and witness tampering.     

The indictment alleges that Zachary Toney, 33, while acting under color of law as a USP McCreary lieutenant, repeatedly kicked and struck a victim while the victim was on the ground and handcuffed behind his back, which caused bodily injury to the victim. The indictment further alleges that Toney then wrote a memorandum documenting a false account of his interactions with the victim intended to cover up the unlawful force that he had used against the victim, omitting that he repeatedly kicked and struck the victim and stating that there were no inmate injuries.

The indictment also alleges that Toney, while acting as a lieutenant, instructed three correction officers to write reports omitting the force that they had observed Toney using against the victim.

“The Justice Department’s mission is to protect the civil rights of all Americans, including those who are incarcerated,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “As alleged, Lieutenant Zachary Toney assaulted a defenseless person in his custody then tried to cover up that misconduct by falsifying records and tampering with witnesses. These charges make clear we will hold accountable Federal Bureau of Prisons personnel who abuse their positions of authority.”

“Correctional officers have an obligation to respect the constitutional rights of the people in their custody and to report honestly on any misconduct,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to enforce those obligations in federal as well as state and local facilities.”

“We trust Federal Bureau of Prisons employees to foster a safe and humane environment for inmates to serve out their sentences. Instead, this indictment alleges that Toney violently assaulted a defenseless inmate and lied to cover it up,” said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz of the Justice Department. “The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate any FBOP employee who allegedly violates the civil rights of an inmate in their custody and care.”

“Ensuring the safety and security of inmates in the custody of the government is critically important,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “We remain committed to ensuring that custody and care is in accordance with the law.”

If convicted, Toney faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the deprivation of rights charge and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of the falsification of records charge and witness tampering charges. Upon any conviction, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General and FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Tara Allison of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

FBOP is committed to rooting out misconduct within its ranks and working with law enforcement partners to prosecute violations of federal law. The numerous FBOP employees working diligently to ensure justice for the victims of misconduct are critical to the Department’s reform efforts.

Any indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

— END — 

LONDON, Ky. – A Chicago woman, Judith Harskey, 56, was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and methadone. 

According to her plea agreement, beginning in 2019 through November 2022, Harskey conspired with others to distribute oxycodone and methadone, while working as a receptionist at the Midwest Physician Pain Center, a pain clinic in Chicago.  During the conspiracy timeframe, numerous Perry County, Kentucky patients regularly traveled to the clinic; and without seeing a doctor, they paid Harskey a cash co-pay.  She then filled out prescriptions that were previously signed by the absent owner/physician, for oxycodone, methadone, and other controlled substances.  Harskey never possessed prescribing authority.

When law enforcement ultimately executed a search warrant, on November 18, 2022, they recovered 541 blank, pre-signed prescriptions from Harskey’s office, including 30 from her purse. 

Under federal law, Harskey must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence.  Upon her release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

– END –

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Frankfort woman, Brittany Joyce May, 35, has been sentenced to 36 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

According to her plea agreement, between July 2021 and May 2023, May was employed as an administrative specialist at the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS).  As part of her duties, May initiated payments to providers who were eligible to receive the funding under certain adoption and foster programs. To do so, May input providers personal identifying information and banking information into the computer resource directory.  To receive payments under these programs, providers submitted required paperwork to CHFS. Upon receiving the paperwork, May initiated payments, via a wire transfer, to the provider’s bank account. However, if providers did not submit the required paperwork or stopped receiving payments because their services had expired, May directed the funds that would have been paid to the providers to four bank accounts that she owned and controlled.

To conceal her actions, May submitted false invoices to make it appear as if the provider requested payment.  Knowing the system automatically sent notifications to the providers’ listed address indicating a payment had been made, May changed the providers’ addresses to new addresses not associated with them.  From July 2021 to May 2023, May used the names and/or social security numbers of 45 providers in the computer resource directory to operate her scheme, and she further opened bank accounts using the personal identifying information of two providers.

In total, May misappropriated $444,663.77 in funds and initiated more than 540 fraudulent wire transfers to bank accounts she owned and controlled.           

Under federal law, May must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence; and upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Division; and Lesley Allison, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pittsburgh Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the IRS and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

– END –

FRANKFORT, Ky. – An Owenton, Ky., man, Tyler Leathers, 35, was sentenced to 180 months in prison on Monday, by U.S. District Judge Greg Van Tatenhove, following convictions for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, and 10 grams or more of fluorofentanyl, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to his plea agreement, on September 29, 2023, law enforcement served an unrelated state arrest warrant on Leathers and searched the property.  Inside, they found cocaine, a ledger, multiple clear baggies, scales, and several thousand dollars.  In the garage, law enforcement found methamphetamine, fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, and additional drug trafficking paraphernalia.  Law enforcement also found 10 firearms, throughout the residence.  Leathers admitted that he possessed the drugs with the intent to distribute them and that he possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug distribution.

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Brent Caldwell, Owen County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Owen County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Baker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Hialeah, Fla., man, Omar Thomas Wala, 35, and a North Miami, Fla., woman, Vienna Cavanaugh, 33, were sentenced on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, to 90 months and 26 months in prison, respectively, for conspiring with others to produce and sell counterfeit drugs. 

According to their plea agreements, Wala and Cavanaugh worked with their co-conspirators, Michael Basalyga, Reina Chirinos de Urena, and Philbert Campbell, to make and sell counterfeit alprazolam, commonly known by the brand name Xanax.  As part of the conspiracy, Wala, Cavanaugh, and their co-defendants made pills that looked similar to real tablets and were stamped with numbers used by legitimate manufacturers, but they were made from other substances, including clonazolam and etizolam, designed to replicate the effects of alprazolam. 

The conspiracy involved selling directly to known customers and by also selling the counterfeit drugs under pseudonyms on darknet marketplaces.  People purchased the drugs with cryptocurrency across the United States, including in Kentucky.  The Court held Wala responsible for distribution of more than 16.1 million counterfeit alprazolam pills from 2017 to 2022 and has ordered Wala to forfeit more than $6.9 million.

“Counterfeit medicine can be harmful and is a serious problem,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  “When purchasing these drugs, consumers may be getting too much, too little, or even the wrong drug, having no way to know it.  We have a closed drug distribution system to ensure that our drug supply is safe to use and is not a marketplace for criminals.  These defendants were prolific sellers of counterfeit drugs and posed a real threat to their customers.  Through the dedicated work of our law enforcement partners, they now face the consequences of their illegal and dangerous profiteering.”

Wala’s and Cavanaugh’s co-defendants are currently scheduled to be sentenced as follows: Campbell is scheduled to be sentenced on November 15, 2024; Basalyga is scheduled to be sentenced on January 14, 2025; and Chirinos de Urena is scheduled to be sentenced March 25, 2025.

Under federal law, Wala and Cavanaugh must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence.  Upon their release from prison, they will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. 

United States Attorney Shier and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.  The investigation was conducted by the DEA, with assistance from the FBI, IRS, and United States Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Rosenberg is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

– END –

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Bryan Darnel Ragsdale, 37, was sentenced to 170 months in prison on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to his plea agreement, between August 6, 2023, and August 30, 2023, Ragsdale agreed with at least one other person, his co-defendant Myrtle Craig, to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Beginning on August 6, 2023, law enforcement arranged for a confidential informant to purchase methamphetamine and fentanyl from Ragsdale, on four different occasions.  During the conspiracy, Ragsdale admitted to distributing 49.72 grams of actual methamphetamine, 157.395 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and 41.88 grams of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl. Separate from this conspiracy, Ragsdale also admitted to distributing 78 grams of methamphetamine and 54.6 grams of fentanyl.

Craig was previously sentenced to 74 months for her role in the conspiracy.

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; and Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by DEA, FBI, and KSP.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Baker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

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COVINGTON, Ky. – A Walton, Ky., man, Robert Maxwell Werner, 46, pleaded guilty, on Thursday, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to a charge of extraterritorial production of child pornography.   

According to his plea agreement, Werner is a U.S. citizen who was living in the Philippines from February 2021 through November 2021.  During this time, Werner became the customer of a Filipino individual who would sell access to dozens of minor victims for in-person or livestreamed sexual acts. For several months, Werner paid this individual for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and multiple in‑person meetings with minor boys in the Philippines. Specifically, Werner admitted to engaging in sexually explicit conduct with at least one minor for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct between July 2021 and November 2021, while in the Philippines. Werner further admitted to transporting that sexually explicit material into the United States.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky announced the guilty plea. 

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth and Trial Attorney Rachel Rothberg, with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Werner is scheduled to appear for sentencing on March 7, 2025.  He faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison.  However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing its sentence.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV, announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Kate Smith will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.  AUSA Smith has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of Kentucky and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

United States Attorney Shier said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election.  Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence.  The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).   

United States Attorney Shier stated that:  “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.  In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Smith will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.  She can be reached by the public at the following telephone number:  859-685-4884.”

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (502) 263-6000.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

United States Attorney Shier said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate.  It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Nicholasville, Ky., man, Darren Michael Ruble, 30, was sentenced to 240 months of imprisonment on Monday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for receiving child pornography.

According to his plea agreement, law enforcement received information regarding an individual that was sending money via PayPal, to an account associated with selling and live streaming child pornography. Law enforcement discovered Ruble, a registered sex offender, was the owner of that account.  On October 17, 2023, law enforcement interviewed Ruble and he admitted to purchasing, accessing, and receiving images of child pornography.  Law enforcement then reviewed Ruble’s cell phones and located over 200 images and 250 videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Ruble further admitted that he was previously convicted of the following, in Indiana: sexual misconduct with a minor (attempt to commit), in December 2015; two counts of possession of child pornography, in July 2014; and sexual misconduct with a minor, in March 2014.

Under federal law, Ruble must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 25 years. 

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the guilty plea. 

The investigation was conducted by HIS, KSP, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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LONDON, Ky. – A Corbin, Ky., woman and former pharmacist, Stephanie Collins, 57, has been sentenced to 20 months, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for her role in a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid, by billing for medications that she never dispensed to her customers.  

According to her plea agreement, Collins operated as a registered pharmacist and operated Stephanie’s Down Home Pharmacy, a retail pharmacy located in Corbin.  The pharmacy sought reimbursement from Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid for the drugs and other medical products it dispensed to its customers.  As part of the scheme to defraud these taxpayer-funded health care benefit programs, Collins used the pharmacy’s computer system to submit claims for payment for prescription drugs that patients never picked up or otherwise received.  Collins also submitted fraudulent claims for diabetic test strips, billing Kentucky Medicaid for more expensive test strips when she was actually giving her customers lower-cost test strips.  In total, her false and fraudulent claims caused Kentucky Medicaid and Medicare to reimburse Collins’ pharmacy $730,055.78.

Under federal law, Collins must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence.  Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for two years. The Court also ordered Collins to pay $730,055.78 in restitution.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; and Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), jointly announced the sentence.

The case was investigated by the DEA, IRS, HHS-OIG; the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Drug Enforcement and Professional Practices Branch; and the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Smith prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. 

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, David Allen Baxter, 40, was sentenced to 100 months, on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to his plea agreement, on February 9, 2024, law enforcement observed Baxter, who had an outstanding warrant for a parole violation, entering and exiting a building.  Officers attempted to make contact, but Baxter fled on foot.  While Baxter was fleeing, officers observed him reaching into his jacket pocket and attempting to grab something.  Officers eventually caught Baxter, who was in possession of a loaded and chambered firearm.  Baxter admitted that he knew he was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.

Baxter had previously been convicted of the following:  convicted felon in possession of a handgun, receiving stolen property, and possession of a controlled substance, in Scott Circuit Court in December 2019; convicted felon in possession of a firearm and wanton endangerment, in Fayette Circuit Court in September 2016; trafficking in a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance, in Fayette Circuit Court in December 2003; and robbery, in Fayette Circuit Court in May 2001.

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The case was investigated by the ATF and Lexington Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts.  In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Jago Clay, 24, was sentenced to 108 months, on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. 

According to his plea agreement, on June 17, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Clay’s vehicle, due to an upside-down license plate affixed to the wrong vehicle.  During the stop, officers found a large bag containing approximately 256 pressed fentanyl pills, a digital scale, and two loaded handguns. Clay admitted to knowingly possessing the fentanyl pills, with the intent distribute them, and to possessing the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking.

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The case was investigated by the ATF, KSP, and Lexington Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts.  In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

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LEXINGTON, Ky.— The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky commemorates and emphasizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) this October, by reaffirming its unwavering commitment to supporting survivors, raising awareness, and promoting justice for those affected by domestic violence.

DVAM serves as a crucial opportunity to shed light on the profound impacts of domestic violence and emphasize the importance of collective action.  Each year, millions of individuals are impacted by intimate partner violence, and far too many families endure the tragic consequences of domestic abuse.  The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that survivors are heard, perpetrators are held accountable, and to strengthening partnerships with communities to prevent domestic violence.

This year’s commemoration of DVAM is special because it also marks the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act.  In 1994, the passage of this landmark, bipartisan legislation transformed the way our nation addresses domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, by increasing protections for survivors, providing critical federal resources to support a coordinated community response to these crimes, and awarding grants at the local, state, territory, Tribal, and national levels.

“Domestic violence accumulates a massive toll, not only on its victims, but also on the friends, families, and communities that surround them,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  “Home is where people go to feel safe and secure, not where fear, abuse, and violence should engulf their lives.  We remain committed to doing our part to combat this destructive threat, to making our communities safer, and to holding people responsible for these shameful acts of violence and abuse.”

Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking can have long-lasting impacts and consequences, and survivors in underserved communities are disproportionately impacted due to the lack of resources or barriers to accessing services.  DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence.

We also encourage everyone to learn more about domestic violence and take steps to support friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors who may be affected.  By understanding the signs of abuse, providing a safe space for survivors, and connecting them to available resources, we can all play a role in creating safer communities.

Victims of domestic violence deserve safety, dignity, and justice.  We are committed to prosecuting those who violate federal laws, collaborating with local law enforcement and prosecutors to identify domestic violence offenders who violate federal firearms prohibitions, and ensuring survivors have access to the resources they need for safety and healing.  Together, we can bring hope to those in need and build a future free from domestic violence.  For more information on Domestic Violence Awareness Month or to access to local resources, please visit https://www.sos.ky.gov/safe-at-home/Pages/Survivor-Resources.aspx

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