Eastern District of Kentucky
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former Elected County Coroner Convicted for Illegal Distribution of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Kentucky man today for illegally prescribing controlled substances Oxycontin, Klonopin, Ambien, and Valium in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dr. David Suetholz, 71, of Ludlow, unlawfully prescribed controlled substances to his patients outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Some patients were prescribed high doses of medication and in dangerous combinations without justification. Suetholz also prescribed to patients without assessing their risks for addiction or their past history of substance abuse.
Suetholz was convicted of 12 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division; Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron made the announcement.
The FBI, DEA, HHS-OIG, and the Kentucky Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Dermot Lynch and Maryam Adeyola of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Lexington Man Sentenced to 250 Months for Armed Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Lexington man, Titus Mayhorn, 34, was sentenced on Wednesday to 250 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to Mayhorn’s plea agreement, on July 11, 2021, law enforcement responded to a call of reckless driving, conducted a traffic stop, and found Mayhorn inside the vehicle with a firearm in the front passenger seat. Mayhorn was found to be impaired and arrested for a DUI. Law enforcement then conducted a search of the car and discovered 985 blue pills stamped with M 30, which were later confirmed to be fentanyl. They also discovered a bag of marijuana, cash, and three firearms.
Mayhorn pleaded guilty in May 2022.
Under federal law, Mayhorn 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; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Mike Murray, Chief of the Versailles Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, ATF, and Versailles Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield
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Former Administrative Manager for Covington Public Works Department Indicted for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. - The former administrative manager for the City of Covington Public Works Department, Allison Donaldson, 49, of Covington, was indicted by a federal grand jury, on four counts of wire fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
The indictment alleges that Donaldson was employed as an administrative manager for the Public Works Department, from 2005 until 2022, and had access to credit card information for the department. The indictment further alleges that, starting in February 2020 and continuing until February 2022, Donaldson knowingly defrauded the City of Covington by using employee credit cards, making over $150,000 in purchases for herself and her home. The purchases listed in the indictment include repairs for a Mercedes Benz, Crate & Barrel furniture, and designer counter stools.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Daniel Cameron, Kentucky Attorney General; and Spike Jones, Chief of the Kenton County Police Department, jointly announced the indictment.
The investigation preceding the indictments was conducted by the FBI, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigation, and the Kenton County Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow.
Donaldson will appear in Court on September 19, 2022, at 2 p.m. She faces up to 20 years on each count of wire fraud; she faces up to two years, to run consecutively on each count of aggravated identity theft; and she faces judgments for restitution and forfeiture of the property attained through the fraud. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Fort Mitchell Chiropractic Clinic Agrees to Settle Allegations of Improper Billing for Electro-Acupuncture DevicesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The United States Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday that Lifestyle Resumption Integrative Health ( “Lifestyle Resumption”), a chiropractic clinic located in Fort Mitchell, Ky., and its owner, Klaude Kocan, D.C., have agreed to pay $200,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act, by improperly billing Medicare for services involving electro-acupuncture devices.
According to the Settlement Agreement, between July 2016 and March 2018, Lifestyle Resumption billed Medicare for the implantation of neurostimulator devices – a surgical procedure during which devices are implanted into the central nervous system or targeted peripheral nerves. The United States contends that these bills falsely represented the services provided, because Lifestyle Resumption did not actually perform surgical procedures. Instead, Lifestyle Resumption’s nurse practitioner applied electro-acupuncture devices to patients’ ears by inserting a limited number of needles and using an adhesive. Medicare does not pay for electro-acupuncture devices billed as implantable neurostimulators and did not reimburse for acupuncture at all during the relevant period.
The United States encourages anyone with information about the improper billing of electro-acupuncture devices (common brand names include P-Stim, Stivax, NeuroStim, ANSiStim, E-Pulse, and NSS-2 Bridge), or about other potential fraud, abuse, or mismanagement of Medicare or Medicaid funds, to call the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ hotline at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). False Claims Act allegations can also be brought under the qui tam provision of the Act, which encourages whistleblowers to bring suit on behalf of the United States and potentially share in any financial recovery.
This matter was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement section, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Corndorf and Meghan Stubblebine.
The settlement resolves claims alleged by the United States; there has been no determination of liability.
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Former Lieutenant Colonel of KSP Convicted of Theft of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A former Lieutenant Colonel of Kentucky State Police (KSP), Michael Crawford, 58, of Georgetown, Ky., was convicted on Tuesday by a federal jury of conspiracy to misappropriate weapons belonging to Kentucky State Police.
According to evidence at trial, in 2016, Crawford conspired with John Goble, 68, the former coroner of Scott County, and KSP armorer, Mitch Harris, to unlawfully misappropriate 21 firearms belonging to Kentucky State Police, including 19 shotguns and 2 M1A rifles. Crawford’s co-defendant, John Goble, previously pleaded guilty to a related conspiracy between the same individuals to misappropriate 187 cases of KSP ammunition, valued at approximately $40,000, which was stored in the basement of Goble’s office.
Crawford and Goble were indicted federally in March 2021.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Col. Phillip Burnett, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ken Taylor and Kate Smith.
Crawford is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13, 2022. He faces up five years in prison and a maximum of a $250,000 fine. 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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Cincinnati Men Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky.— Two Cincinnati men, Taravon Geer, 28, and Keith Upshaw, 26, were sentenced to federal prison Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, after previously pleading guilty to their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Geer was sentenced to 216 months in prison and Upshaw was sentenced to 60 months in prison. A third member of the conspiracy, Radaja Ford, was sentenced to 228 months in prison.
According to court documents, the Geer and Upshaw conspired with Ford to distribute a large amount of fentanyl, by selling a combination of fentanyl and heroin on multiple occasions. Law enforcement made sixteen controlled drug buys from the group, in June and July of 2020. They arranged each transaction by calling a common cellular number and arranging the transaction with either Ford or Geer. At his arrest, Geer was found in possession of 16.251 grams of fentanyl, more than $3,500, digital scales, baggies, and two cellular phones. At his arrest, Ford was found in possession of more than $4,000 in cash, twenty oxycodone tablets, and three cellular phones. At his arrest, Upshaw was found in possession of a loaded Glock 19 handgun, a digital scale, and 3.955 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and a fentanyl analogue. Upshaw admitted to his involvement in distributing over 40 grams of fentanyl and Geer admitted to participating in the distribution of over 400 grams of fentanyl. Geer has prior convictions for drug trafficking, residential burglary, and burglary while in possession of a firearm and was on parole at the time of these offenses.
Under federal law, each Defendant must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon release from prison, Geer and Upshaw 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; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisville Field Division; and Rob Nader, Covington Police Chief, jointly announced the sentences.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Covington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke.
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Two Current Kentucky State Police Troopers and One Former Trooper Indicted for Civil Rights Violations and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. - Two current Kentucky State Police Troopers and a former Trooper have been indicted for using excessive force on an arrestee, conspiring to cover up that excessive force, and illegally entering a home.
A federal grand jury sitting in London returned a superseding indictment charging Kentucky State Trooper Jeremy Elliotte, 28, and former Trooper Derrek Lovett, 30, with willfully depriving an arrestee of the right to be free from unreasonable force. Elliotte was also charged with willfully depriving three others of their right to be free from unreasonable searches. Michael L. Howell, 32, also a Kentucky State Trooper, was the third defendant named in the superseding indictment. He had previously been indicted in June 2022, for conspiracy and obstruction charges. The superseding indictment now charges all three with a conspiracy and with engaging in obstructive conduct with the intent to prevent communication of information to federal law enforcement relating to the possible commission of a federal offense.
The indictment alleges that Elliotte and Lovett, aiding and abetting one another and acting under color of law, assaulted a victim without legitimate law enforcement justification and that this assault resulted in bodily injury. The indictment further alleges that Howell, along with Elliotte and Lovett, conspired to conceal the true nature of the force Elliotte and Lovett used against the arrestee and the circumstances under which they used it. According to the indictment, the three defendants developed a cover story about what happened. While hoping the assault had not been recorded, the conspirators agreed upon a version that was as close as possible to what a recording would show, in case the assault had been recorded. The indictment also alleges that, on the night of the assault, Elliotte unlawfully entered a home without a warrant or other legal justification, depriving three victims living there of their right to be free from unreasonable searches.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, announced the indictments.
The investigation preceding the indictments was conducted by the FBI. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Dembo and Emily Greenfield.
A date for Elliotte, Howell and Lovett to appear in court has not yet been set. Each faces up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy and obstruction charges; Elliotte and Lovett face up to 10 years for the deprivation of rights charge related to the assault; and Elliotte faces up one year for the deprivation of rights charge related to the unlawful entry. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Two Ashland Men Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky.— Two men, Ricardo Rothwell, 42, and Aaron McWhorter, 29, both from Ashland, were respectively sentenced to 72 months and 137 months in federal prison on Monday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for various methamphetamine trafficking and firearm charges.
Rothwell was sentenced after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, on July 10, 2021, Rothwell was stopped by law enforcement at a traffic stop, where they found him in possession of 96.8 grams of methamphetamine, 11.35 grams of fentanyl, .97 grams of cocaine, and 2.2 grams of marijuana.
McWhorter was sentenced after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to his plea agreement, on July 5, 2021, law enforcement was dispatched on reports of a man passed out in a vehicle, later identified as McWhorter. Law enforcement found him in possession of a firearm. McWhorter admitted that he knew that he was previously convicted in Carter County Circuit Court for felony possession of a controlled substance and was prohibited from possessing a firearm. McWhorter was also in possession distribution quantities of narcotics.
Rothwell and McWhorter both pleaded guilty in May 2022.
Under federal law, Rothwell and McWhorter must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. Upon their release from prison, they 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; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Chief Todd Kelley, Ashland Police Department; and Sheriff Bobby Woods, Boyd County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentences.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, FBI, Ashland Police Department, and Boyd County Sheriff’s Office. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Recent ADA Enforcement EffortsRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. –The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky is announcing some recent enforcement efforts under the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”). The ADA, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990 and recently passed its 32nd anniversary, is the nation’s foremost civil rights law for providing equal access and opportunity for people with disabilities. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, who are tasked with enforcing the ADA in their jurisdictions, play a critical role in ensuring the goals of the ADA.
The ADA requires “places of public accommodation,” like restaurants and retail establishments, to provide individuals with disabilities equal access to facilities, both by removing physical barriers and by modifying policies or practices to permit appropriate access to people with disabilities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has recently resolved several matters involving businesses that are “places of public accommodation” under the ADA, including the following:
- Issuing a letter of resolution to Camporosso Wood Fired Pizzeria, in Fort Mitchell, Ky., where Camporosso agreed to remove obstructions to the restaurant’s accessible parking spaces caused by an expanded outdoor dining area installed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Camporosso also agreed to install signage at the designated accessible spaces, as required by the ADA.
- Entering into a settlement agreement with Burt 145, LLC, the owner of a building on 145 Burt Road in Lexington, Ky. that houses more than a dozen places of public accommodation, in which the company agreed to remove physical barriers at all the unit entrances and properly mark accessible parking spaces in its parking lot. The U.S. Attorney’s Office opened this matter after receiving a complaint from an individual who uses a wheelchair, who could not enter a business in the building without assistance because of a step at the store entrance.
- Entering into a settlement agreement with DZ Properties, LLC, the owner of a building that houses Jim’s Fine Wine & Spirits and a dentistry practice in Fort Mitchell, Ky., resolving a complaint regarding a lack of accessible parking.
- Issuing a letter of resolution to Lexington-based Magee’s Baking Company, resolving a complaint by an individual with disabilities who alleged that bakery staff attempted to exclude her from the restaurant after she could not provide documentation for her service animal, which is not required under the ADA. As part of the resolution, Magee’s agreed to adopt and maintain a Service Animal Policy, train its staff members on the ADA’s service animal requirements, and post signage permitting service animals.
Each of these referenced matters were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Pond. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with businesses and the community in its efforts to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to places of public accommodation under the ADA. Additional information about the ADA is available at www.ada.gov. To report potential civil rights violations, including potential violations of the ADA, contact the Department’s Civil Rights Division at civilrights.justice.gov, or contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office directly, at [email protected].
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Nashville Man Convicted of Armed Methamphetamine Trafficking in Southeastern KentuckyRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Nashville man was convicted on Thursday, by a federal jury sitting in London, of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The jury convicted Marlon Johnson following a three-day trial and about two hours of deliberations.
According to evidence at trial, on November 18, 2019, Johnson led law enforcement officers with the Knox County Sheriff’s Department on a high-speed chase, through residential streets in Corbin, before crashing into a gate and parked car. Johnson then fled on foot, into a cemetery, where he was ultimately apprehended. During a search of his vehicle, law enforcement located more than a kilogram of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm.
Marlon Johnson was indicted on December 20, 2018, following an investigation by the DEA, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, and Operation UNITE.
Johnson will appear for sentencing on November 29, 2022. He faces from 15 years to life in federal prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing its sentence.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Mike Smith of the Knox County Sheriff’s Department made the announcement. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew H. Trimble.
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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Harlan County Man Sentenced to 33 Months for Fraudulently Obtaining COVID Relief LoansRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Harlan, Ky., man, David Christopher Lewis, 49, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier, after pleading guilty to wire fraud, for obtaining Paycheck Protection Program loans under false pretenses.
According to his plea agreement, in May 2020, Lewis submitted two fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on behalf of Bubba Fest, LLC and Elite Artists Agency, LLC. Both businesses related to a “comic con”-style event called Bubba Fest that Lewis had organized in prior years. The Paycheck Protection Program was created as part of the CARES Act, a law passed in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Paycheck Protection Program loans were designed to provide an incentive for small businesses to keep workers on their payroll during the pandemic; these loans would be forgiven by the United States Small Business Administration, if the borrower established that loan proceeds were used for payroll, rent, or other approved business expenses. The amount of the loan was dependent on the business’s payroll.
As part of his fraudulent PPP loan applications, Lewis provided the bank, First State Bank of the Southeast, with fake tax documents and payroll records misrepresenting the businesses’ number of employees and payroll expenses. As a result, he obtained fraudulent a PPP loan for each business totaling $370,000. Evidence admitted at Lewis’s sentencing hearing established that between May 26 and August 28, 2020, Lewis paid himself or his wife more than $100,000 of the PPP loan money. In his plea agreement, Lewis also admitted to obstructing the FBI’s investigation of his crime by providing a sworn affidavit that lied about the existence and whereabouts of the businesses’ employment and payroll records.
Under federal law, Lewis must serve at least 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. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Lewis was ordered to pay $370,000 in restitution to First State Bank of the Southeast.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisville Field Office jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul McCaffrey.
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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Michigan Man Convicted of Armed Drug Trafficking and Attempted RobberyRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. - A Flint, Michigan, man was found guilty Monday, by a federal jury sitting in London, of armed drug trafficking and attempted robbery.
After two hours of deliberation, following a five-day trial, the jury convicted 39-year-old Charles Ray Edwards of heroin trafficking, fentanyl trafficking, conspiracy to distribute both substances, felon in possession of a firearm, use of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking, and for his role in an attempted Hobbs Act robbery at a convenience store. His trafficking and robbery offenses involved three shooting victims, including the death of a bystander in the convenience store.
According to testimony at trial, Edwards was dealing heroin and fentanyl in Southeastern Kentucky region. As part of his drug trafficking crimes, Edwards wounded two individuals in a shooting incident in Knox County. Then, during the attempted robbery, a bystander in the store was shot and killed. Edwards has a prior felony conviction, and was prohibited from possessing firearms
Edwards was indicted in February 2021.
“After hearing the evidence, the jury was convinced that the defendant was an armed and violent offender, who was involved in three shootings – and the death of a bystander in a store,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “We are hopeful that this verdict will provide some sense of justice to the victims; we are grateful for the critical support of our law enforcement partners, without whom this verdict would not have been possible; and we are pleased that the defendant will now face the consequences of his conduct.”
“The combined efforts of Kentucky State Police and ATF have helped bring a very dangerous individual to justice,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division. “ATF will continue to seek justice for the victims of these violent acts and work to make our communities safer.”
United States Attorney Shier; ATF SAC Morrow; and Colonel Phillip Burnett Jr., Commissioner, Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the guilty verdict.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and KSP. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman.
Edwards will appear for sentencing on November 17, 2022. He faces a maximum of Life in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing its sentence.
This case 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. The PSN program 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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Jessamine County Man Sentenced to 93 Months for Distribution of Marijuana and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Nicholasville, Ky., man, Demetrius Burt Catching, 32, was sentenced to 93 months in federal prison on Monday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, after pleading guilty to the distribution of marijuana and money laundering.
According to Catching’s plea agreement, he admitted to distributing marijuana in the Lexington area, and then taking the proceeds from the marijuana sales and placing large sports bets and wagers at various Indiana casinos. According to the plea, Catching was banned from one of the casinos, on January 9, 2021, so he recruited others to go in his place to make his wagers and bets. Cash from the wagers was deposited in bank accounts in Catching’s name. Catching was also ordered to forfeit approximately $215,000 in proceeds from his drug trafficking and money laundering offenses, and ordered to serve an additional, consecutive term of 55 months, for supervised release violations on previous convictions.
Catching pleaded guilty to the new charges in March 2021.
Under federal law, Catching 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; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS – Criminal Investigations; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Todd Justice, Nicholasville Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the IRS – Criminal Investigations, DEA, U.S. Probation Office, the Indiana Gaming Commission, and the Nicholasville Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger West and Andrea Mattingly Williams.
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Two Men Sentenced for Roles in Large-Scale Crystal Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Two men, in separate cases, were sentenced on Monday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for their roles in two conspiracies to distribute considerable amounts of crystal methamphetamine.
William R. Hargis, 24, of Danville, Ky., was sentenced to a total of 420 months in federal prison. Hargis previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 52.5 pounds of crystal meth, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to Hargis’ plea agreement, in May 2021, law enforcement was conducting a narcotics investigation regarding a group of individuals engaged in distributing crystal methamphetamine in Lexington. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop where they found Hargis in possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, a digital scale, plastic bags, and cash. Upon further investigation, it was determined that Hargis was a drug supplier and was storing, packaging, and cutting narcotics in a Lexington office building. In that office, law enforcement found more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine, four firearms, cocaine, and additional drug trafficking items.
Furthermore, Hargis also admitted to travelling from the Kentucky to Southern Indiana casinos to engage in financial transactions, by placing monetary bets to conceal the source of the bets, which was in whole or part proceeds from the drug trafficking.
In a second case, Deangelo Devon Grant, 36, of Los Angeles, was sentenced to 264 months in federal prison, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine.
According to Grant’s plea agreement, on August 16, 2021, Grant received a package that had been shipped from California to Lexington, which contained approximately 48 pounds of crystal methamphetamine for distribution. Grant admitting flying from California to receive the package, in Lexington. Grant’s vehicle was stopped by law enforcement, where they discovered the methamphetamine.
Grant had previous convictions for robbery in the second degree, in California (2004), and possession with intent to distribute cocaine in the Western District of Kentucky (2016).
Both Hargis and Grant pleaded guilty in April 2022.
Under federal law, Hargis and Grant must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. Upon their release from prison, Hargis will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years and Grant will be under supervision for 10 years.
“As these two cases illustrate, the amount and purity of the methamphetamine we are seeing in Eastern Kentucky is remarkable,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Illegal methamphetamine trafficking has an immense impact on our communities, and often brings guns, violence, and other crime. We remain committed to prosecuting those who engage in this grave conduct, and we hope that sentences like these will serve as a warning to those who continue to engage in it.”
“Anyone who poisons our communities through the sale of illicit drugs must be stopped and brought to justice,” said J. Todd Scott, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. “I’m very proud of the work done by the men and women of DEA and our law enforcement counterparts in both of these cases.”
United States Attorney Shier; DEA SAC Scott; Colonel Phillip Burnett Jr. Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentences.
The investigations were conducted by the DEA, KSP, and Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West.
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Louisville Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Possessing Stolen MailRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky.— A Louisville man, Antwan Lovelace, 27, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison last Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, following his conviction for possession of stolen mail.
According to the evidence at his trial, in late December 2020, in an apartment in Frankfort, Lovelace was in possession of over $400,000 worth of stolen mail. The stolen mail included checks, money orders, gift cards, and greeting cards; various ID documents; bank cards; acetone containers; and other chemicals commonly used to wash checks. Investigators contacted the senders of the checks and discovered they had mailed the checks from various post office locations in and around Louisville.
A jury convicted Lovelace in January 2022. Lovelace’s co-defendant, Joiya Smith, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
Under federal law, Lovelace 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.
“In some form or fashion, every one of us relies on the postal system to communicate, exchange articles, or transact business,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “That means the integrity of the postal system is critically important to us all. In conjunction with our partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute those who criminally exploit the postal system. And this case should serve as a warning of the potential consequences that face those who do.”
“The results of this investigation serve as a great example of the coordination between the US Postal Inspection Service and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to preserve the safety, security, and integrity of the nation’s mail system from criminal activity,” said Lesley C. Allison, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge of the Pittsburgh Division. “As the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency, the Postal Inspection Service has a long, proud, and successful history of fighting criminals who misuse our nation’s postal system.”
United States Attorney Shier and Inspector Allison, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the USPIS, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, Louisville Metro Police Department, and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. The United States was represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Chapman.
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Ohio Man Sentenced to 324 Months for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky.— A Morrow, Ohio man, Steven Richard Stiles, Jr., 34, was sentenced to 364 months in federal prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, after pleading guilty to using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography.
According to Stiles’ plea agreement, from June 18, 2021 to December 16, 2021, he communicated with five minor victims via Snapchat, persuaded them to produce visual depictions of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and convinced them to send him the depictions through Snapchat. Stiles admitted that he knew that the visual depictions were of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Stiles pleaded guilty to the charge in April 2022.
Under federal law, Stiles 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 life.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jerry Templet, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief Kyle Rader, Erlanger Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DHS-HSI and Erlanger Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Spievack and Amanda Harris Huang.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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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Ohio Man Sentenced to 168 Months for Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky.— A Fairfield, Ohio man, Shakir Aswad Little, 30, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, after pleading guilty to transporting visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
According to Little’s guilty plea, on July 27, 2021, law enforcement found Little in possession of approximately 335 videos and images of child pornography on his phone, which he had transported from Ohio to Kentucky. Little admitted that he knowingly transported these videos and images and knew that they contained minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Little pleaded guilty to the charge in April 2022.
Under federal law, Little 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; Jerry Templet, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Sheriff Michael Helmig, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DHS-HSI and Boone County Sheriff’s Office. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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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Campbell County Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Bellevue, Ky., man, Perrin George March V, 27, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to illegal possession of a firearm.
According to March’s plea agreement, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at his residence and found a fully loaded AK-47 pistol, ammunition, and large capacity magazines. March admitted that he knew he was currently subject to a domestic violence order and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
March was indicted in May 2022.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield.
March is scheduled to be sentenced on November 8, 2022. He faces a maximum of 10 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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Indiana Woman Sentenced to 240 Months for Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PIKEVILLE, Ky. – An Auburn, Indiana woman, Tiffany Miller, 38, was sentenced yesterday to 240 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to her plea agreement, in the early morning hours of July 10, 2021, in Knott County, Miller stole a firearm from Timothy Cornett and then a truck from Winford Cornett. Thereafter, Trooper Bradley Couch, of KSP Post 13 in Hazard, responded to the thefts and ultimately engaged in a vehicle pursuit of Miller. Miller refused to exit the vehicle and ultimately shot Trooper Couch in the shoulder, with the stolen firearm. Miller also fired a shot at Trooper Jacobs, also of KSP Post 13 in Hazard, who had responded to the scene. It took several additional KSP officials to ultimately place Miller in custody. At the time of these incidents, Miller was under the influence of methamphetamine and was a fugitive, with multiple pending arrest warrants from Indiana. Miller also had multiple prior felony convictions, which included violence and resisting arrest.
Miller pleaded guilty in March 2022.
Under federal law, Miller must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years after her release.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Office, and Col. Phillip Burnett, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble.
This case 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. The PSN program 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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Campbell County Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – An Alexandria, Ky., man, Rodger William Moore, 54, was sentenced on Thursday to 120 months in federal prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for transporting child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, in May of 2019, the Defendant flew from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport to Fayetteville, Arkansas. When he got off the plane, he left his cell phone behind. Airline staff found it, turned it in to lost-and-found, and later accessed it to try to identify the owner. When they did, they observed what appeared to be child pornography and contacted law enforcement. A forensic review of the phone revealed approximately 171 videos and images of child pornography. Then, on a subsequent occasion, Northern Kentucky law enforcement discovered child pornography in his car and on various computers and storage devices in his residence.
Moore pleaded guilty in September 2021.
Under federal law, Moore must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life, after his release.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jerry Templet, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Casey Kilgore, Ft. Thomas Police Department; and Chief Mike Ward, Alexandria Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DHS-HSI, Ft. Thomas Police Department, and Alexandria Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Leonhard.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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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Estill County Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— An Irvine, Ky., man, Brian Keith Crim, 38, was sentenced to 360 months (or 30 years) in federal prison on Wednesday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, after pleading guilty to production of child pornography.
Brandy Laraye Crim, 36, Brian Crim’s wife and co-defendant, was originally scheduled to also be sentenced on Wednesday, but her sentencing was continued to a later date.
According to the Crims’ guilty plea agreements, on September 17, 2020, law enforcement received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a report of child pornography being uploaded to Google on various dates. Law enforcement investigated the report and both defendants were arrested. Both defendants’ phones and two gmail accounts were examined. These examinations revealed explicit videos of the defendants sexually exploiting a minor victim.
The Crims pleaded guilty to the charges in March 2022.
Under federal law, Crim must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jerry Templet, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Colonel Phillip Burnett, Jr., Commissioner, Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentences.
The investigation was conducted by the HSI and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Marye.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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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Former Eastern Kentucky Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Covering up Assault of InmateRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – A Morehead, Ky., man, and former Eastern Kentucky Correctional Center (EKCC) officer, Derek A. Mays, 32, pleaded guilty to an information on Monday, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, admitting to four counts of obstruction of justice.
According to his plea agreement, Mays admitted that on July 24, 2018, he witnessed three EKCC correctional officers assaulting an inmate, and then he falsified records that covered up that assault. Specifically, Mays wrote and signed an Occurrence Report that was intending to cover up the assault, saying that the inmate had been uncompliant, which was false. Mays also admitted to later lying to his supervisor, a KSP detective, and a Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet investigator, on three separate occasions, about the assault.
Mays was indicted in July 2022.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office; and Colonel Phillip Burnett Jr. Commissioner, KSP, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by FBI, KSP, and the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zach Dembo and Mary Melton.
Mays is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2023. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each charge. 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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Woodford County Man Sentenced to 42 Months for Fraudulently Obtaining COVID Relief LoansRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., man, Randall “Rocky” Blankenship, Jr., 49, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Karen C. Caldwell, after pleading guilty to a conspiracy to commit wire fraud to obtain Paycheck Protection Program loans under false pretenses.
According to his plea agreement, in April 2020, Blankenship submitted four fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for Blankenship RV Finance Solutions LLC, RSGG Properties LLC, RSGG Holdings LLC, and RSGG Investments LLC, all business entities he formed. The Paycheck Protection Program was created as part of the CARES Act, a law passed in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Paycheck Protection Program loans were designed to provide an incentive for small businesses to keep workers on their payroll during the pandemic; these loans would be forgiven by the United States Small Business Administration, if the borrower established that loan proceeds were used for payroll, rent, or other approved business expenses. The amount of the loan was dependent on the business’s payroll.
As part of his fraudulent PPP loan applications, Blankenship, with the assistance of an accountant, created fake tax documents and payroll records indicating that his businesses had hundreds of thousands of dollars in quarterly payroll; when in fact, none of the entities had any payroll expense at all. Blankenship submitted the applications through Kentucky Bank and Independence Bank; and as a result, he obtained fraudulent PPP loans totaling $1,323,829. According to his plea, he used some of the funds for a RV business he owned (which had already received its own PPP loan and was ineligible for additional loans at the time), as well as personal use, including paying off casino debt and purchasing real estate. Blankenship has repaid the stolen funds in full.
In a related case before Judge Caldwell, the accountant, Tammy Jo Goodwin, also pled guilty to conspiring with Blankenship to fraudulently obtain PPP loans. Goodwin’s sentencing is scheduled for September 26, 2022.
Under federal law, Blankenship must serve at least 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. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Blankenship was ordered to pay a $30,000 fine.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisville Field Office; Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); and Stephen Donnelly, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Eastern Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (FRB), jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, FDIC-OIG, and FRB. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul McCaffrey.
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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U.S. Attorney’s Office Reminds Communities Regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act and Outdoor Dining AreasRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — As part of continuing COVID-19 pandemic mitigation strategies, many cities and other local municipalities have allowed restaurants to create or expand outdoor dining spaces, onto streets, sidewalks, and parking lots. To ensure that such new dining spaces are accessible and do not impair the ability of those with disabilities to move in and around these areas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky announced that it is sending the attached Letter to remind communities and restaurants of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Letter explains that, under the ADA, restaurants must ensure that all dining areas (both indoor and outdoor) are accessible. It also reminds municipalities, who often must approve the use or expansion of outdoor dining, that these areas must not obstruct the accessible path of travel on sidewalks. Similarly, outdoor dining spaces should not reduce the availability of accessible parking spaces, in streets and parking lots.
“The use of new or enhanced outdoor seating is a valuable tool to assist COVID-19 mitigation and promote business,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “However, when considering these changes, it is important for restaurants to remember the requirements of the ADA and to ensure that any outdoor dining spaces are accessible to people with disabilities, and do not diminish the accessibility of surrounding areas, including sidewalks and availability of accessible parking spaces.”
The Letter includes a link to the Department of Justice’s website, ADA.gov, which provides information and technical assistance on the ADA’s requirements for public accommodations, such as restaurants, as well as state and local governments.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky is responsible for enforcing a variety of federal statutes that prohibit discrimination, including the ADA. Members of the public with information relating to ADA compliance or other potential civil rights violations may submit a complaint through the Department’s civil rights portal at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by contacting the United States Attorney’s Office at (859) 233-2661.
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Franklin County Man Sentenced to 300 Months for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky.— A Belfry, Ky., man, Edward Leonidas Lewis, 54, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison on Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Greg Van Tatenhove, after pleading guilty to producing child pornography.
According to Lewis’ guilty plea, on February 25, 2021, law enforcement found images of child pornography on four different electronic devices in his possession. Lewis then admitted to using “spy cameras,” hidden in bathrooms and bedrooms of his residences, to produce child pornography images of a victim.
Lewis was previously convicted of four counts of Possession of a Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor, in Franklin Circuit Court, in May 2013.
Lewis pleaded guilty to the federal charge in March 2022.
Under federal law, Lewis 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 life.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jerry Templet, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Colonel Phillip Burnett, Jr., Commissioner, Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the HSI and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Marye.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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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Statement from U.S. Attorney Shier Regarding Floyd County ShootingRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky is aware of the Floyd County shooting incident involving law enforcement, which occurred late yesterday and into the early morning hours of today. As the investigation of this incident progresses, we stand with our local and state law enforcement partners. We are offering our support and our federal resources to assist them in their investigation of this shooting. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic event, especially the family members, friends, and colleagues of the law enforcement and first responders lost or injured.
Ohio Man Sentenced to 414 Months for Kidnapping, Sexual Assault, and Possession of ContrabandRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky.— A Portsmouth, Ohio man, Charles Glorioso, 53, was sentenced to a total of 414 months on Monday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning for kidnapping, sexual assault, and possession of contraband.
According to the testimony at his trial, on July 10, 2020, and the early hours of July 11, 2020, Glorioso and Nathan Welch kidnapped a woman at knifepoint. The victim was driving the two in her vehicle, from Portsmouth, into Greenup County, Kentucky. There, the victim testified, both men physically and sexually assaulted her, until she was allowed to leave, when she traveled back across the river on foot. The incident was reported to police and she was transported to the hospital, for treatment of multiple injuries sustained during the assault. Later, where the assault took place in Greenup County, officers located the victim’s abandoned vehicle, her belt, shoe, as well as the knife used during the kidnapping and assault, all in or near her vehicle.
In addition to that conviction, Glorioso had pleaded guilty previously to two counts of possession of contraband while incarcerated.
Glorioso was convicted in March 2022. Welch was convicted for his role in December 2021. Welch was sentenced in March 2022, to 384 months and three years of supervised release.
Under federal law, Glorioso 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; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Office; Col. Phillip Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Debby Brewer, Portsmouth Police Department, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by FBI, KSP, the Portsmouth Police Department, and the Ohio Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francisco Villalobos and Zachary Dembo.
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Illinois Man Convicted of Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Stickney, Illinois, man was convicted on Thursday, by a federal jury sitting in Lexington, of one count of money laundering.
After 3.5 hours of deliberations, following a two-day trial, the jury convicted 37-year old Rudy Guerrero of the charge.
The indictment alleged a promotional money laundering scheme, amongst eight defendants, and included criminal activities in Lexington and Chicago, during the conspiracy. According to testimony at trial, Guerrero delivered bulk cash drug proceeds on three separate occasions within a week. The proceeds totaled approximately $450,000 and were intended to further the drug trafficking activities of the larger criminal organization. The money laundering scheme involved the conversion of bulk cash to cryptocurrency, for transfer to other conspirators based in Mexico.
Guerrero was indicted in December 2021.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury.
Guerrero will appear for sentencing on October 3, 2022. He faces up to up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $500,000. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.
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Kentucky State Trooper Indicted for Conspiracy and ObstructionRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky.- A Kentucky State Police Trooper, from London, Ky., has been indicted for conspiracy as well as engaging in misleading conduct with the intent to prevent communication to a federal official or commission of a federal offense.
A federal grand jury sitting in London returned the indictment charging 32-year-old Michael L. Howell with conspiracy to obstruct a criminal investigation and for engaging in misleading conduct with the intent to prevent communication of information to federal law enforcement relating to the commission or possible commission of a federal offense.
The indictment alleges that Howell, along with another KSP Trooper, conspired with others to conceal the true nature of force used by KSP troopers, and the circumstances under which they used that force, to detain an arrestee. The indictment alleges that Howell and the others failed to disclose the use of force upon the victim, by developing a fictious story about what happened, which matched “the closest thing to what the video would show,” in order to conceal the true events and mislead his investigating supervisor.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, announced the indictment.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Dembo and Emily Greenfield.
A date for Howell to appear in court is scheduled for July 8 at 1:30 p.m. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each charge. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
This indictment is part of an ongoing investigation.
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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Former Federal Medical Center Correctional Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation and Sexual Abuse of InmatesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Christopher Brian Goodwin, 46, was sentenced to 135 months on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for deprivation of rights under color of law and three counts of sexual abuse of a ward.
Goodwin was employed as a correctional officer through the Bureau of Prisons, at FMC Lexington, and committed the offenses upon four inmates under his custody and supervision. According to his plea agreement, Goodwin grabbed one victim as she attempted to exit an office space and placed himself between her and the door so he could monitor the hallway through a window. Goodwin proceeded to sexually assault the victim against her will, knowing there were no cameras in that vicinity. He admitted he had deprived the inmate of her Constitutional right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment and his actions also resulted in bodily injury to the victim.
According to his plea agreement, Goodwin also admitted to unlawfully touching the breasts, buttocks, and groin area of three more victims on multiple occasions between April and September of 2019. According to his plea, he sexually abused these three inmates by unlawfully engaging in oral sex.
Goodwin pleaded guilty to the charges in March 2022.
Under federal law, Goodwin must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years and subject to sex offender registry laws of Kentucky.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; William Hannah Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The DOJ-Office of the Inspector General and FBI handled the investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tashena A. Fannin and Kate K. Smith.
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Kenton County Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Armed Marijuana TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky.- An Erlanger, Ky., man, Brent Crawford, 39, was sentenced to 180 months in prison on Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to Crawford’s guilty plea, from February 1, 2020 to January 20, 2021, he conspired with others to distribute 100 kilograms of marijuana. Law enforcement located over 42 kilograms of marijuana in Crawford’s residence, along with more than $33,000, assorted items of jewelry, and a loaded assault rifle. Crawford admitted that he possessed the rifle to protect the marijuana and the proceeds from his drug trafficking.
Crawford pleaded guilty in February 2022.
Under federal law, Crawford is required to serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. After his release, he will be under supervised release for eight years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Director Christopher Conners, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentencing.
FBI and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Bracke represented the United States.
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Second Whitley County Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Violent KidnappingsRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. — Jake Messer, 39, of Rockholds, Kentucky, was sentenced to Life in federal prison on Tuesday, by United States District Judge Robert E. Wier. On February 10, 2022, Messer was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of kidnapping, following his indictment in November of 2020.
According to evidence at trial, the kidnappings were motivated by an unsuccessful drug deal, where Messer and his co-conspirators lost $10,000. Jake Messer organized, directed, and recruited assistance for the armed kidnappings. Messer ordered the two victims transported to a remote trailer in Clay County, where they were held for 24 hours. There, the victims were separated, interrogated, threatened, and assaulted. After several hours of captivity, Messer held the female victim down and raped her. Messer then provided his father, George Oscar Messer, duct tape and zip ties. His father then duct taped the victim and sexually assaulted her a second time, at gunpoint. The victims only escaped after a family member spotted them in a ditch on the side of the road with Messer. Thereafter, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Kentucky State Police (KSP) recovered 15 firearms, including an assault rifle, from the Messer residence.
Messer received numerous sentencing enhancements, including use of a dangerous weapon, acting as an organizer, demanding ransom, and sexually exploiting a victim. At the sentencing hearing, witnesses also testified that Jake Messer had previous incidents of violence, sexual assault, and threats. In rendering the sentence, Judge Wier described the Messers’ conduct as the “very basement of human conduct.” Judge Wier also said the sentence reflected the importance of declaring that the rule of law exists and applies to everyone, regardless of location and culture.
“This is a disturbing example of the incidence of unspeakable violence that often accompanies illegal drug trafficking,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This case included kidnappings, threats, firearms, repeated sexual assaults, and even a true sense of lawlessness. This unconstrained violence and infliction of suffering certainly warrants the sentence imposed. Cases like this will embolden our efforts to combat this blight on our communities; it should also serve as a stark warning to those who continue to participate in destructive violence and drug trafficking.”
“This is the second defendant to receive a life sentence from an armed drug-trafficking group that kidnapped, tortured and raped the victims in this case,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division. “This was a joint effort between the Kentucky State Police and ATF. We hope this life sentence brings some sense of justice to the victims and sends a very clear message that ATF and our law enforcement partners will not stand by and allow these acts of violence."
United States Attorney Shier, Special Agent in Charge Morrow, and Colonel Phillip Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
This case 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. The PSN program 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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Boone County Man Sentenced to 280 Months for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky.— A Florence, Ky., man, William Freddy Jackson, 43, was sentenced to 280 months in federal prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, with a prior conviction for a serious drug felony.
According to Jackson’s plea agreement, he was the subject of a domestic violence call to law enforcement, on January 24, 2021. Law enforcement then found Jackson in possession of 45.8 grams of fentanyl. Jackson admitted to possession the fentanyl with the intent to distribute it.
Jackson had previously been convicted of two serious drug felonies. Jackson was convicted of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine on two separate occasions.
Jackson pleaded guilty in February 2022.
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 eight years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Kent Kleinschmidt, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Detroit Filed Office; and Chief Tom Grau, Florence Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Florence Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Bracke.
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Three Big Sandy Employees Indicted for Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky.- Three Bureau of Prisons employees of the United States Penitentiary Big Sandy, located in Inez, Ky., were indicted on Thursday, for federal civil rights violations.
A federal grand jury sitting in London, Ky., returned an indictment charging the following individuals: Samuel J. Patrick, 41, of West Van Lear, Ky.; Clinton L. Pauley, 40, of Ironton, Ohio; and Kevin C. Pearce, Jr., 37, of Inez, Ky. The defendants have been charged with violating an individual’s rights under the color of law and of falsifying records to impede an investigation.
The indictment alleges that on April 29, 2021, Patrick and Pauley assaulted an inmate, in the lieutenant’s office of USP Big Sandy. After Pearce and a subordinate BOP employee witnessed the assault, Pearce asked that employee to write an untruthful report, omitting the assault. It is also alleged that Patrick pressured that employee to submit to Pearce’s demand.
The indictment also alleges that Pearce wrote a memorandum that documented the false account of the officers’ interactions with the inmate who was assaulted; that stated another employee was present in the office with the victim; and that stated the victim left the office without incident, omitting the assault. Patrick and Pauley are also alleged to have written memos to cover up the assault.
The indictment further alleges that Pauley previously assaulted another inmate on March 26, 2021, while the inmate was being escorted away from the lieutenants’ office of USP Big Sandy and that he subsequently wrote a false incident report to cover up that assault.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division; William J. Hannah, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Chicago Field Office; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, announced the indictment.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the DOJ OIG and the FBI. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division.
A date for Patrick, Pauley, and Pearce to appear in court has not yet been scheduled yet. For the deprivation of rights charges, they each face a maximum of 10 years per, and for the falsification of records charges, they each face 20 years for each count. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Former CPA Sentenced for Submitting False Documents to the IRSRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky.- A former Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Charles Marshall Stivers, 59, of Manchester, Kentucky, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for submitting false documents to the IRS.
According to Strivers’ plea agreement, in 2015, he had previously been convicted in the Eastern District of Tennessee for participating in a cigarette tax stamp conspiracy; and as a result, he had his CPA license revoked by the Kentucky Board of Accountancy. Despite that, on multiple occasions from 2016 to 2019, Stivers held himself out as a CPA and falsely completed IRS Form 2848s (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative) indicating he was a licensed CPA.
Stivers pleaded guilty in December 2021.
Under federal law, Stivers 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.
In addition to his prison sentence, he was also ordered to pay a $30,000 fine.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Kelly K. Moening, Special Agent in Charge, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Great Lakes Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by TIGTA. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Moynahan.
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Lexington Man Sentenced to 240 Months for Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— A Lexington man, Christopher Paul Cavanaugh, 40, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Karen C. Caldwell, after pleading guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to Cavanaugh’s plea agreement, in March 2021, the United States Postal Service intercepted a package of methamphetamine that was being sent to him. Law enforcement then found Cavanaugh in possession of approximately 1.95 kilograms of methamphetamine and three firearms. Cavanaugh admitted that he possessed the firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
Cavanaugh pleaded guilty to the charges in the indictment, in February 2022.
Under federal law, Cavanaugh 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 life.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Darren Hess, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West.
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Whitley County Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Violent KidnappingsRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. — George Oscar Messer, 62, of Rockholds, Kentucky, was sentenced to Life Imprisonment on Wednesday, by United States District Judge Robert E. Wier. Messer was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of kidnapping, in January of this year.
According to evidence presented at trial, the kidnappings were motivated by an unsuccessful drug transaction, during which Messer’s son and his co-conspirators lost $10,000. Messer arrived at the scene of the kidnappings with numerous firearms, including an assault rifle and .44 magnum revolver. Messer held the revolver to one victim’s head while demanding the lost money. Thereafter, Messer learned that one of his co-conspirators had raped the second victim. In response to this, Messer then bound the second victim and sexually assaulted her, again, at gunpoint.
Messer and his co-conspirators held the two victims for approximately 24 hours, during which time the victims were interrogated, threatened, and assaulted. The victims only escaped after a family member spotted them in a ditch on the side of the road with Messer. Law enforcement recovered 15 firearms and numerous controlled substances from the Messer residence. At sentencing, Messer received numerous enhancements based on the use of a dangerous weapon, acting as a manager or supervisor, demanding a ransom, and sexually exploiting a victim. Messer also had a prior conviction for Sexual Abuse, Third Degree, from Whitley County in 2014.
Messer was indicted in November of 2020. His co-conspirators, Jake Messer, Joshua Mills, and Stephen Jewell, are awaiting sentencing.
“This is an unsettling example of the disturbing effects of illegal drug trafficking on our communities,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “In this case, it also wrought armed kidnappings, tortuous threats, and repeated sexual assaults. That unconstrained violence and unspeakable infliction of suffering certainly warrants the sentence imposed. I want to commend our law enforcement partners for their dedicated efforts in this case, without which this prosecution would not have been possible.”
“This defendant was part of an armed drug-trafficking organization that committed heinous acts of violence,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division. “I commend the efforts of the ATF agents and Kentucky State Police who worked diligently on this investigation to help bring justice to the victims who were kidnapped, tortured, and forced to endure the unimaginable. We hope that this life sentence brings some form of healing to the victims and sends a very clear message that ATF and our law enforcement partners will not stand by and allow these acts of violence."
United States Attorney Shier, Special Agent in Charge Morrow, and Colonel Phillip Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and KSP. United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna E. Reed.
This case 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. The PSN program 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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Agents Seize over $2 Million in U.S. Currency and More Than 10,000 Diverted Oxycodone PillsRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – Investigators from the DEA Criminal Diversion Group, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, the Barbourville Police Department, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Manchester Police Department arrested twelve people, and seized approximately 10,000 diverted oxycodone pills and over $2,000,000 in U.S. Currency, as the result of an investigation into a Louisville-based drug trafficking operation.
In connection with this investigation, a federal grand jury sitting in London returned an indictment charging Jose Luis Barata Vazquez, Alexey Barata Hernandez, Yoleisys Reyes Castillo, Dioslen Jimenez Ortiz, Kaid Rogers, Allison Renee Rogers, Michael King, Christopher King, Floyd Barker, Sheila Barger, and Samuel Barger with conspiring, together and with others, to distribute oxycodone in Madison, Estill, Clay, and Laurel counties, from September 2019 to March 2022. The grand jury also returned an indictment charging Franklin Hammons, in a related case, with conspiring with others to distribute oxycodone in Knox County, from April 2012 to April 2022.
Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, supervised release of up to 3 years, as well as forfeiture of any assets used to facilitate these crimes or that constitute the proceeds of these offenses. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Louisville Field Division; Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron; and Vic Brown, Executive Director of Appalachia HIDTA, jointly announced the indictment. Assistant United States Attorney W. Samuel Dotson is representing the United States.
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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U.S. Attorney Shier Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
“Making the commitment to serve your community is the first of many sacrifices that members of law enforcement choose to make when they enter their public service,” said U.S. Attorney Shier. “The work that follows is demanding, persistent, and hazardous – but also absolutely critical to making our communities safer and more resilient. National Police Week reminds us to collectively reflect on the sacrifices of members of law enforcement and allows us to show our sincere appreciation for the essential service they provide to our communities.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. Seven officers, who died in the line of duty in the Eastern District of Kentucky, will be added to the law enforcement memorial in Washington, D.C.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
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Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.
[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.
Former Scott County Coroner Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The former Scott County Coroner, John Goble, 68, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, before U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to conspiracy to commit theft of weapons and ammunition belonging to Kentucky State Police.
According to Goble’s plea agreement, from 2014-2018, Goble agreed with Mike Crawford to store ammunition belonging to Kentucky State Police, in the basement of his office. This ammunition was misappropriated by the KSP armorer, Mitch Harris, and then given to Crawford and Goble. Over the total conspiracy, the total value of the misappropriated ammunition had a value of approximately $40,000.
Goble was indicted in April 2022.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ken Taylor and Kate Smith.
Goble is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2022. He faces up five years in prison and a maximum of a $250,000 fine. 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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Two Men Sentenced to 380 Months and 320 Months for Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Two men, James Garfield Charles, 52, of Lexington, and Vincent Adams Vassor, 55, of Los Angeles, were sentenced to 380 months and 320 months in federal prison, respectively, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, after being convicted of various drug trafficking charges.
Charles and Vassor were both convicted in January 2022. Charles was convicted of Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance if his drug trafficking. Vassor was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. A third defendant, Antonio Cloyd, 59, also of Lexington, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of meth and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to evidence presented at trial, from January 2021 to June 2021, Charles distributed methamphetamine and provided others with methamphetamine for their distribution. On February 8, 2021, law enforcement made a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Vassor, which led law enforcement to Charles, who supplied the drugs. On June 8, 2021, law enforcement arranged a controlled purchase of three pounds of methamphetamine; and then, after obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement found an additional five pounds of methamphetamine and distribution quantities of multiple controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana.
Under federal law, both must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. Upon their release from prison, they 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; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Filed Division; and Colonel Phillip Burnett, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; jointly announced the sentences.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Todd Bradbury.
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Florida Man Sentenced to 400 Months for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky.— A Winterpark, Fla., man, Jimmy DeLeon, 56, was sentenced to 400 months in federal prison on Monday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, after pleading guilty to aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
According to DeLeon’s guilty plea, in August 2020, he travelled to pick up two minor victims, at their home in Boyd County. He then took both victims to various states throughout the country. During this interstate travel, he admitted to sexually abusing both victims and to producing videos and photos of that abuse.
DeLeon pleaded guilty in December 2021.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Filed Office; and Chief W. Todd Kelley, Ashland Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Ashland Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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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Three Men Convicted on Federal Charges Relating to a Kidnapping Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.- Rosario Diaz Barraza, 32, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Ramon Camacho Zepeda, 54, of Lexington, were convicted by a federal court jury on Wednesday, of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and interstate transportation of stolen automobiles, following a 7-day trial. A third defendant, John Carlos Betancourt, 27, of Penuelas, Puerto Rico, was convicted of the interstate transportation of stolen vehicles.
According to evidence presented at trial, the charges stemmed from the kidnapping of two individuals, identified in court records as J.O. and M.A.T.O. Both victims were killed during the commission of the kidnapping. Their bodies were discovered in the trunk of a Volkswagen Jetta, on September 11, 2017, at 430 Blue Sky Parkway in Lexington. The location was an automotive repair business owned by J.O. Two vehicles belonging to J.O. were stolen during the offenses and transported to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Evidence presented at trial included that Camacho Zepeda and Diaz Barraza were distributing kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin in Lexington, and that J.O. had allegedly incurred a debt to them based on his involvement in the drug trafficking. Testimony by a pathologist from the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office showed that J.O.’s cause of death was attributed to “chop wounds” to the head and asphyxiation. The second victim, M.A.T.O., died from asphyxiation.
Two other defendants, Jose Felix Tlatenchi, 39, also of Wilkes-Barre, and Jean Michael Serrano-Jimenez, 31, of Hanover Township, Penn., previously entered guilty pleas relating to their involvement. Serrano-Jimenez pled guilty as charged to conspiracy to commit kidnapping, while Tlatenchi pled guilty as an accessory after the fact to the kidnappings.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, DEA, Louisville Field Office; Colonel Phillip Burnett, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the verdict.
The lengthy investigation was conducted primarily by the Lexington Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Kentucky State Police. Multiple additional law enforcement agencies also provided valuable assistance, including the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Police Department, the Reading, Pennsylvania Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the New York City Police Department, the Harlingen, Texas Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd Bradbury and Francisco Villalobos.
Serrano-Jimenez is scheduled for sentencing on May 12, 2022. Tlatenchi is scheduled for sentencing on July 7, 2022. Diaz Barraza, Camacho Zepeda and Betancourt are all scheduled for sentencing on July 25, 2022. Diaz Barraza, Camacho Zepeda, and Serrano-Jimenez face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Tlatenchi faces up to 15 years and Betancourt up to 10 years. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing its sentence.
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Nigerian National Extradited for Defrauding Elderly Victims and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Nigerian national, Adedunmola Gbadegesin, has been extradited to the United States, on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering, stemming from the financial exploitation of elderly victims in the United States.
According to a recently unsealed Court documents, a federal grand jury in Lexington returned an indictment charging Adedunmola Gbadegesin, 33, of Lagos, Nigeria, alongside two others, Olatunbosun Oluwakayode Ajayi, 34, of Atlanta Georgia, and Otunuya Ineh Eqwem Livingstone, 45, of Houston Texas, with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The indictment alleges that Gbadegesin and his co-conspirators collaborated to create fake online dating profiles, to post to online dating websites. As part of the alleged conspiracy, the co-conspirators would engage in online chats, emails, and telephone calls with unwitting victims, who were located in the United States, including one in Lexington. The indictment alleges that as part of the conspiracy, the co-conspirators would convince the victims to send money to the nonexistent romantic partners or give them access to their financial accounts, so the co-conspirators could initiate money transfers themselves.
The indictment also alleges that Gbadegesin hired others in the U.S. to receive funds from victims and to launder those funds, so the funds could be returned back to Gbadegesin in Nigeria. Those United States-based money launderers included Ineh Eqwem, Ajayi, and Ismaila Fafunmi.
Fafunmi pleaded guilty to his role in the money laundering scheme; and in August 2021, he received 51 months in prison. Ineh Eqwem and Ajayi have also pleaded guilty for their roles in the money laundering scheme; they were sentenced to 24 months and 12 months, respectively.
Gbadgesin was arrested by Nigerian authorities on Sept. 22, 2021, in Lagos, Nigeria at the request of the United States. At the time of his arrest, Gbadgesein had been residing in Lagos, Nigeria. Nigeria approved his extradition on March 21, 2021, and he was transferred into U.S. custody on April 26, 2022.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the indictment.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Dieruf. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria, the Nigerian Attorney General’s Office, the Central Authority Unity, and the FBI Louisville Field Office assisted with the extradition of Gbadgesein.
Gbadegesin has his first appearance in Court on May 2, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s efforts to identify and prosecute those persons who facilitate elder financial exploitation.
The Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Mission, being carried out through the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force, is to seek justice for victims of elder financial exploitation. Anyone that knows someone, who may be a victim of an elder financial exploitation, is encouraged to contact law enforcement.
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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Knox County Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. — A Barboursville, Ky., man, David E. Hamblin, 37, was sentenced to __ months in federal prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to Hamblin’s plea agreement, in July 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle and found him in possession of over 50 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm, which was loaded and in the pocket of the driver’s side door. Hamblin admitted he intended to distribute the methamphetamine and he possessed the firearm to protect himself from the dangers associated with his drug trafficking activities.
Hamblin pleaded guilty in November 2021.
Under federal law, Hamblin 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 four years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Chief Winston Tye, Barboursville Police Department; and Sheriff Mike Smith, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, Barboursville Police Department, and Knox County Sheriff’s Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble.
This is another case 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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Former BOP Employee Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a WardRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Georgia man, formerly residing in Lexington, Ky., Hosea Lee Jr., 43, pleaded guilty on Friday, before Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to committing five counts of sexual abuse of a ward.
According to his plea agreement, Lee was employed as a correctional officer at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, and during that time he served as a drug treatment specialist. Between October and December 2019, on multiple occasions, Lee performed sexual acts on four separate victims, who attended his drug treatment classes.
Lee was indicted in July 2021.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; William J. Hannah, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Chicago Field Office; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by DOJ-OIG and FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tashena Fannin and Kate Smith.
Lee is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29, 2022. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000. 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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Scott County Man Sentenced to 324 Months for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Georgetown, Ky., man, Phillip Christopher Abel, 36, was sentenced on Thursday, to 324 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, after previously pleading guilty to enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct.
According to his Abel’s plea agreement, law enforcement received information that he was using Freenet, a peer-to-peer file sharing network to request files associated with the sexual exploitation of children. Additionally, law enforcement found at least 30 deleted photos of a pre-pubescent female in various sexual poses that were taken at Abel’s property. Abel admitted that he knowingly used the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of the sexually explicit conduct.
Abel pleaded guilty in September 2021.
Under federal law, Abel 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 life. In addition to his prison time, Abel is required to pay $15,000 in restitution.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jerry Templet, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Daniel Cameron, Attorney General of Kentucky; and Michael D. Bosse, Chief of Police, Georgetown Police Department, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by HSI, Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, and Georgetown Police Department. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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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Ashland Man Sentenced to 108 Months for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. — An Ashland man, Jamaal A. Stokes, 31, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison on Monday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to Stokes plea agreement, in September 2021, law enforcement conducted a search of Stokes’ residence and found him in possession of between one and two pounds of methamphetamine, a large amount of marijuana, a large amount of cash, a digital scale, and plastic baggies.
Stokes pleaded guilty in December 2021.
Under federal law, Stokes 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 J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker.
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Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 32 Years for Kidnapping and Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. — A Parkersburg, Penn., man, Nathan Thomas Welch, 53, was sentenced on Monday, to 384 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, after previously being convicted of kidnapping and sexual assault.
According to testimony at his trial, on July 10, 2020 (and the early hours of July 11, 2020), Welch and Charles Glorioso, 53, of Portsmouth, Ohio, kidnapped a woman at knifepoint. The victim was driving the two men, in her vehicle, from Portsmouth, into Greenup County, Kentucky. There, the victim testified, both men physically and sexually assaulted her, until she was allowed to leave, when she traveled back across the river on foot. The incident was reported to police and she was transported to the hospital, for treatment of multiple injuries sustained during the assault. Later, where the assault took place in Greenup County, officers located the victim’s abandoned vehicle, her belt, shoe, and sandal, as well as the knife used during the kidnapping, all in or near the vehicle.
Welch was convicted by a federal jury in December 2021. Glorioso was convicted by a federal jury, in March 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced in June 2022.
Under federal law, Welch 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; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Louisville Field Office; Col. Phillip Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Debby Brewer, Portsmouth Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by FBI, KSP, the Portsmouth Police Department, and the Ohio Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco Villalobos.
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Wolfe County Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— A Compton, Ky., man, Justin Clay Spencer, 37, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking activity.
Spencer was indicted after law enforcement found him in possession of 259 grams of methamphetamine. Spencer admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine. Additionally, Spencer was in possession of a firearm, which he used for protection in furtherance of his methamphetamine trafficking.
Spencer pleaded guilty to the charges in the indictment in December 2021.
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 five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Office; and Colonel Phillip Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and KSP. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield.
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