Eastern District of Kentucky
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Subject Arrested and Federally Charged for Deadly Berea Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky will be holding a press conference to provide an update and information regarding the arrest and federal charges of the suspect in the deadly Berea bank robbery.
WHERE: U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Kentucky, 260 W. Vine Street, Suite 300—Lexington, Ky. 40507
WHEN: FRIDAY, May 1, 2026 at 2 p.m.
CONTACT: Gabrielle Dudgeon, Public Affairs Specialist(859) 229-7996
Kenton County Man Sentenced for Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Covington man, Trintin Peeno, 31, was sentenced on Thursday to 150 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to his plea agreement, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Peeno’s residence on July 10, 2025, after receiving information about drug trafficking at the residence. During the search, officers recovered 28.9 grams of methamphetamine, 1.373 grams of fentanyl, 1.125 grams of cocaine, and a loaded handgun near the drugs. Peeno claimed ownership of the gun and the drugs and admitted to distributing controlled substances. Peeno also admitted that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activity. At sentencing, Peeno admitted that he had threatened to murder a neighbor who approached police about this activity.
Under federal law, Peeno 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 4 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Justin Wietholter, Covington Police Department, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Covington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Boone County Man Sentenced for Accessing Child Pornography Through the Dark WebRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Walton, Ky., man, Kameron Thomas, 35, was sentenced on Friday to 37 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for accessing child pornography with the intent to view it.
According to court documents, in January 2025, Thomas’s roommate, Ronald Knox, distributed a depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct to an undercover law enforcement officer by means of a BitTorrent peer-to-peer network. In May 2025, law enforcement searched their residence, during which Thomas admitted that he accessed child pornography through a Tor browser on his smartphone and that he had been doing so regularly for years. Law enforcement seized Thomas’s device, which revealed evidence corroborating his admissions.
Knox was previously sentenced to 168 months for the distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Under federal law, Thomas must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years.
Jason D. Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Craig Patrick Sorrell, Campbell County Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Campbell County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Spievack is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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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USP McCreary Inmate Convicted of Attempted MurderRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky.- Mufid Elfgeeh, 42, was convicted by a federal jury in London for attempted murder. Elfgeeh was convicted following a two-day trial.
While serving a 270-month sentence for attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, United States Penitentiary McCreary staff observed Elfgeeh attacking his cellmate. Elfgeeh had requested a private cell and was upset that BOP had not complied with his request. Elfgeeh used an improvised weapon to stab his cellmate at least 30 times as he ignored numerous verbal commands to stop the attack, continuing the stabbing through three sprays of OC spray, OC vapor grenades, being struck by a foam baton, pepper balls, and hornet nest munitions. Elfgeeh’s assault continued until staff outfitted with protective gear breached the cell, restrained him, and removed the weapon.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt.
Elfgeeh will appear for sentencing on September 1, 2026. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
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California Man Convicted of Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky.- A Carson, California, man, Genghis Stevenson, 48, was convicted on Wednesday by a federal jury in Covington of possession with intent to distribute an aggravated quantity of fentanyl. Stevenson was convicted following a 2-day trial.
Law enforcement learned that Stevenson was a passenger on a flight from the Greater Cincinnati Airport to Los Angeles on March 28, 2024, and encountered Stevenson as he was about to board the plane. Over $15,000 in cash was seized from his carry-on bag along with 251 grams of fentanyl from his checked bag.
Stevenson has a violent history, including felony convictions for second degree robbery and taking of a motor vehicle from possession of another by a means of force and fear (carjacking).
“On National Fentanyl Awareness Day, we acknowledge the widespread presence of fentanyl infiltrating our communities, but this conviction makes it clear that those responsible for trafficking it will be held accountable. Trafficking this poison is not a victimless crime—it fuels addiction, devastates families, and puts lives at risk every single day,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Our Office, alongside our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in identifying, disrupting, and prosecuting those who choose to profit from this crisis. We will continue to hold offenders accountable and protect the public from the dangers of fentanyl.”
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Scott Schwartz, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke.
Stevenson will appear for sentencing on August 21, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum 10-year term of imprisonment and could face up to life in prison.
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Sex Offender Sentenced for Weapons PossessionRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – Clinton Everett Hahn, 52, was sentenced on Monday to 45 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier for being a felon in possession of firearms.
Hahn, a resident of Missouri, was required to register as a sex offender based on a Statutory Rape, Second Degree, conviction. He absconded from Missouri and was ultimately located by the Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force living in a makeshift encampment in Clay County, Kentucky. Hahn was located with two firearms, and he admitted to firing both weapons within the week before his arrest. In addition to the rape conviction, Hahn also has felony convictions for Distributing a Controlled Substance to a Minor and Assault 2nd Degree.
“The Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force is one of many examples of collaborative efforts between federal, state, and local law enforcement that serve to make our community safe,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Tracking down and bringing to justice an armed, fugitive, sex offender is exactly the type of work that makes our District a safer place to live.”
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jeremy Honaker, Acting United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky announced the sentence.
The criminal investigation was conducted by the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
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Justice Department Secures $510,000 Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Kentucky LandlordRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Joseph E. Johnson, the owner and manager of residential rental properties in Lexington, Kentucky, agreed to pay $510,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that he sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
“The Justice Department will not tolerate violations of our federal fair housing laws, including landlords’ unwelcome sexual advances and requests for sexual favors,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement demonstrates our commitment to continuing to enforce these laws so tenants remain safe and secure in their homes.”
“No one should have to choose between homelessness and sexual harassment in the place where they should feel safest,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Our office is committed to holding accountable anyone who preys on and harasses vulnerable tenants in Eastern Kentucky, and this settlement sends a clear message that sex discrimination in housing will not be tolerated.”
The Justice Department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in December 2024, alleges that Johnson sexually harassed female tenants for decades, including in their homes and at the rental office. The suit alleges that Johnson offered to forgive rent in exchange for sexual contact, demanded sexual contact from his tenants, subjected tenants to unwelcome sexual touching, made unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances, let himself into female tenants’ homes without notice or permission, and threatened to evict tenants who refused his demands. The complaint also alleges Johnson failed to stop his employees when they engaged in similar conduct.
Pursuant to the consent order, which was approved today by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, the defendant must pay $500,000 to tenants who were harmed by his harassment and a $10,000 civil penalty to the United States. The consent order permanently bars Johnson from managing residential rental properties and from contacting tenants harmed by his harassment. It also mandates training and the adoption of policies and procedures to prevent future discrimination in his rental properties.
If you are a victim of sexual harassment by another landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $19 million for victims of such harassment.
Justice Department Secures $510,000 Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Kentucky LandlordRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Joseph E. Johnson, the owner and manager of residential rental properties in Lexington, Kentucky, agreed to pay $510,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that he sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
“The Justice Department will not tolerate violations of our federal fair housing laws, including landlords’ unwelcome sexual advances and requests for sexual favors,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement demonstrates our commitment to continuing to enforce these laws so tenants remain safe and secure in their homes.”
“No one should have to choose between homelessness and sexual harassment in the place where they should feel safest,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Our office is committed to holding accountable anyone who preys on and harasses vulnerable tenants in Eastern Kentucky, and this settlement sends a clear message that sex discrimination in housing will not be tolerated.”
The Justice Department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in December 2024, alleges that Johnson sexually harassed female tenants for decades, including in their homes and at the rental office. The suit alleges that Johnson offered to forgive rent in exchange for sexual contact, demanded sexual contact from his tenants, subjected tenants to unwelcome sexual touching, made unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances, let himself into female tenants’ homes without notice or permission, and threatened to evict tenants who refused his demands. The complaint also alleges Johnson failed to stop his employees when they engaged in similar conduct.
Pursuant to the consent order, which was approved today by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, the defendant must pay $500,000 to tenants who were harmed by his harassment and a $10,000 civil penalty to the United States. The consent order permanently bars Johnson from managing residential rental properties and from contacting tenants harmed by his harassment. It also mandates training and the adoption of policies and procedures to prevent future discrimination in his rental properties.
If you are a victim of sexual harassment by another landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $19 million for victims of such harassment.
Frankfort Man Convicted of Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky.- A Frankfort man, Donald Demil Clay, 50, was convicted on Wednesday by a federal jury in Frankfort for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Clay was convicted of the charges following a two-day trial.
According to testimony at trial, the investigation as to Clay began with numerous tips to law enforcement that Clay was renting a commercial property in Frankfort that he used to store and to distribute cocaine. After several months of surveillance, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant at the property used and maintained by Clay. Police seized approximately 4 ounces of cocaine that was concealed in a box affixed to a custom poker table.
Clay was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in July 2014.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Colin Jackson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Derrick Napier, Frankfort Police Department, jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by HSI, DEA, and the Frankfort Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury.
Clay will appear for sentencing on July 9. He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.
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Former Sober Home Owner and Operator Sentenced for Kickback Conspiracy and Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Charlotte, North Carolina, woman, Delores Jordan, 57, and Ernest Williams, 52, of Lexington, Ky., were sentenced this week to 60 months and five years of probation respectively, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for their roles in a kickback conspiracy and health care fraud.
Serenity Keeper’s, LLC (“Serenity Keepers”), owned by Jordan, was a sober home company based in Fayette County, Ky., that purported to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services and housing for individuals enrolled in its program. Serenity Keepers allegedly used urine drug tests for their clients for non-medical reasons, such as ensuring sobriety. Beginning in 2019 through February 2022, Williams ran several sober homes operating as Serenity Keepers.
According to her plea agreement, in the fall of 2019, Jordan solicited kickbacks from an individual in exchange for the referral of urine drug testing from Serenity Keepers to various urine drug testing labs. Jordan received these kickbacks in the form of check, cash, and electronic payments for the referral of urine drug testing from Serenity Keepers to three different urine drug testing labs. In October 2021, the kickbacks increased to $5,000 and were paid to Jerome Davis, one of Jordan’s co-defendants, in the form of consulting payments, paid as checks, or ACH payments to Davis’s company X-Tremly for Christ, LLC.
Through the scheme, Jordan and Serenity Keepers caused Medicaid and Medicare to pay three different urine drug testing labs approximately $2,569,946 for urine drug testing referred to them, in exchange for unlawful kickbacks paid to Jordan. Willams performed urine drug testing on the residents of the homes he operated knowing the tests were not ordered by a medical provider and would not be reviewed by a medical provider.
As further part of the scheme, between August 2019 and March 2022, Serenity Keepers billed Medicaid for peer support services that were not provided by licensed peer support specialists. At Jordan’s direction, Williams stated that individuals living in his sober homes received six hours of peer support services per day, knowing that was not true. Over that time frame, Williams received $365,374.72, a percentage of the amount billed to Medicaid for the homes he managed.
Dashawn Dawkins was convicted earlier in April 2026 for his role in the kickback conspiracy and health care fraud conspiracy. Lily Bell, who paid the kickbacks to Dawkins, Jordan, and Davis, and who facilitated the abuse of the Nurse Practitioner’s stolen identifiers, pled guilty to aggravated identity theft. Jerome Davis pled guilty to his role in the kickback conspiracy and was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day of incarceration.
Under federal law, Jordan and Williams 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 3 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky Attorney General, Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate K. Smith.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs
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Former 4-H County Extension Agent Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Terence Lorenzo Clemons, 52, was sentenced on Tuesday to 25 years by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for the production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, Clemons was a County Extension Agent that operated 4-H programs in the Bath County School System. In April 2024, Clemons began a romantic “relationship” with a minor victim in the school system. Through extensive conversations via text messaging and various social media platforms, Clemons professed his “love” and asked the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct via livestreaming and by sending him videos/photos. Clemons used his position as a leader of 4-H programs to gain access to the victim, which included at least one instance of physical touching, during events Clemons attended through the 4-H program.
During the sentencing hearing, the Court noted the seriousness of this type of offense cannot be overstated. The Court also remarked that those with positions of trust need to understand this conduct will not be tolerated.
“This defendant held a position of trust and exploited that position in order to prey on the vulnerability of a child,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “That betrayal strikes at the very core of our communities, where parents and families should be able to trust those entrusted with mentoring and guiding young people. We remain committed to holding accountable anyone who abuses that trust and to working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect children from exploitation and harm.”
Under federal law, Clemons must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Colin Jackson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by HSI, KSP, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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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Fayette County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Osama Omar Qasem, 29, was sentenced on Thursday to 120 months by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of trafficking in firearms.
According to his plea agreement, from January to March 2025, law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to conduct four controlled drug and firearm transactions from Qasem. Through the four transactions, Qasem sold the informant over 700 grams of methamphetamine and three firearms. After the fourth transaction, the informant contacted Qasem to set up a fifth controlled buy. When Qasem showed up for the transaction, law enforcement were waiting. Qasem was found with a loaded firearm in his car, equipped with a large capacity magazine. Law enforcement also located approximately 136. grams of cocaine and 237 grams of methamphetamine that Qasem admitted he was planning on distributing to others.
Under federal law, Qasem 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.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Partners with Judi’s Place for Kids for Therapy Dog to Support Crime Victims and WitnessesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky has partnered with Judi’s Place for Kids, a children’s advocacy center, headquartered in Pikeville, Ky., for use of their certified facility dog throughout the district.
A highly trained facility dog used in proper circumstances can reduce the stress experienced by victims and witnesses, foster connections with the prosecution team, encourage communication, and inspire a sense of trust.
Leslee is the Facility Dog for Judi's Place. Leslee or "Les" has been serving with Judi’s Place for the past seven years. Les's role is to support the children at their office and in judicial proceedings. This involves cuddling with children before and after therapy sessions, walking them to their sessions, and accompanying children as they testify in court. Les also attends many education and community events for Judi's Place. Les knows over 50 commands. Before coming to Judi's Place, Leslee trained for two years to become certified through Canine Companions.
“Protecting children and pursuing those who exploit them remains a top priority for our Office,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This partnership with Judi’s Place for Kids enhances our ability to support victims in a trauma-informed way, strengthening our cases and our commitment to justice. During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we are proud to take this step forward in better serving our communities.”
“Leslee and Judi’s Place for Kids are honored for a chance to serve even more children and victims throughout the Commonwealth,” said Judi’s Place for Kids. “We cannot wait to show the difference a canine can make in the life of child victim.”
Judi’s Place for Kids – a bright solution for abused children – is a community working together promoting safety and justice, offering hope and healing so that all may thrive and reach their full potential. Judi’s Place is a non-profit established in 1999 with locations in Pikeville and Prestonsburg, serving Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Martin, and Magoffin Counties in eastern Kentucky. Judi's Place for Kids provides two programs: accredited children's advocacy center services and CASA (court-appointed special advocates) of Eastern Kentucky.
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Kenton County Man Sentenced for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Crestview Hills, Ky., man, William Clark, 70, was sentenced on Thursday to 63 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for receiving child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, on July 13, 2024, law enforcement responded to a report that a man was taking photos of children in their swimsuits at a recreation center in Kenton County. Officers spoke to Clark who admitted that he possessed computer-generated depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct and that he had downloaded the material from two websites. Clark consented to the search of his electronic devices and law enforcement found approximately 885 digital images and three digital videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Law enforcement further found that hundreds of those files had been downloaded from websites including those the Defendant admitted visiting.
Under federal law, Clark 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 5 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Colin Jackson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief Mike Leming, Erlanger Police Department, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the HSI and Erlanger Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Spievack is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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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Frankfort Man Convicted of Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky.- A Frankfort man, Donald Demil Clay, 50, was convicted on Wednesday by a federal jury in Frankfort for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Clay was convicted of the charges following a two-day trial.
According to testimony at trial, the investigation as to Clay began with numerous tips to law enforcement that Clay was renting a commercial property in Frankfort that he used to store and to distribute cocaine. After several months of surveillance, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant at the property used and maintained by Clay. Law enforcement seized approximately 4 ounces of cocaine that was concealed in a box affixed to a custom poker table.
Clay was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in July 2014.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Colin Jackson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Derrick Napier, Frankfort Police Department, jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by HSI, DEA, and the Frankfort Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury.
Clay will appear for sentencing on July 9. He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.
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Final Defendant Sentenced in Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Batavia, Ohio, woman, Stephanie Marie Terrell, 39, was sentenced on Thursday to 78 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for aiding and abetting the attempted possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to her plea agreement, on May 23, 2025, the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted a package containing over 220 grams of methamphetamine that was addressed to a residence in Covington and mailed from Houston, Texas. On May 27, 2025, law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery of the package to the Covington residence, and Scott Baxter, Terrell’s co-defendant, retrieved the package from the porch and brought it to a nearby vehicle driven by Terrell. Terrell began driving away from the residence, but law enforcement initiated a traffic stop. Dereco Lamont Evans, the front seat passenger and another co-defendant, opened the passenger door and threw the package out. Evans and Terrell were detained.
Terrell admitted that she was retrieving the package, that the intended recipient was Timothy McCay, another co-defendant, that she knew the package contained drugs, and that she had facilitated McCay receiving the drugs from Joseph Felix Garza of Houston, another co-defendant.
Terrell’s co-defendants were previously sentenced to the following:
- Joseph Felix Garza was sentenced to 132 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release
- Timothy J. McCay was sentenced to 123 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release
- Harry Smith was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release
- Scott Baxter was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release
- Dereco Lamont Evans was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release
- Stephanie Marie Garcia was sentenced to time served (4 days) and 3 years supervised release
Under federal law, Terrell and her co-defendants must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, Terrell will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Lesley Allison, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pittsburgh Field Division; and Scott Hardcorn, Director of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by USPIS and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Spievack is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lexington Man Convicted of Armed Drug Trafficking and Illegal Firearm Possession ChargesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. After a three-day trial, a Lexington man, Victorian Valdimar Hardaway, 36, was convicted on Thursday by a federal jury in Lexington for conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and a detectable amount of oxycodone; distributing fentanyl; possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, oxycodone, and methamphetamine; possessing a firearm as a convicted felon; and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes.
According to testimony at trial and items seized during a search warrant, Hardaway had large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout the apartment where he was staying. Law enforcement recovered numerous items of drug paraphernalia, including a hydraulic press, baggies, cutting agents, a blender, more than $5,000 in bundled cash, and digital scales. Evidence revealed that Hardaway was a large-scale drug trafficker in the Lexington community selling substantial amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and oxycodone. Hardway also possessed firearms during drug transactions and another one in the bedroom where many drugs and paraphernalia was recovered. Further, Hardaway’s criminal history shows he is a convicted domestic violence aggressor.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, and Lexington Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ron Walker and Aubrey McGuire Girouard.
Hardaway will appear for sentencing in August 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.
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Lexington Man Arrested and Federally Charged with Threatening to Assault and Murder President Trump and Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.- A federal criminal complaint was unsealed in the U.S. District Court in Lexington on Wednesday charging Kadrioan Serainity Santiago, 23, with interstate threatening communication.
According to the criminal complaint, on April 1, 2026, FBI received information that Santiago, under the username “kadi_skating,” had been posting a series of politically violent threats and statements on Instagram between January 2026 and late March 2026. Among other things, Santiago threatened to cut President Donald Trump’s face with a razor blade, pull his skin off and feed the skin to stray dogs; threatened to kill the next member of law enforcement who interacted with him; encouraged others to shoot at ICE agents; and threatened to kill ICE agents himself.
The criminal complaint alleges that Santiago began posting the threatening communication in January 2026, posting, “im filled with political violence.”
“Threatening violence against the President and federal law enforcement officers strike at the core of our nation’s safety and the rule of law,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “These actions will not be tolerated and will be met with swift and decisive prosecution. Through the FBI’s diligence and swift action, we moved quickly to address this threat and will pursue prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.”
"To those who choose to hide behind the anonymity of a screen to unleash threats against the President of the United States, other government officials, and law enforcement, the FBI will find you,” said Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office. “It is against the law to post threatening communications online, and the FBI and our partners will use every available resource to identify, locate, and arrest those who choose to do so."
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the criminal complaint.
The case is being investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Greenfield is representing the United States in this case.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations. The Defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Auto Parts Manufacturer and General Manager Sentenced for Illegal Storage of Hazardous WasteRead the Press Release
GOTEC Plus Sun LLC (GOTEC), a Delaware company, pleaded guilty today to illegal storage of hazardous waste. GOTEC was sentenced to pay a $275,000 fine and to serve a one-year term of probation.
On March 30, the court sentenced Natalie Fehse, the former general manager of the GOTEC facility, to five years of probation, including a special condition of 10 months of home confinement, and a $5,000 fine for her role in the illegal storage of hazardous waste.
“The illegal accumulation and storage of hundreds of containers of hazardous waste at GOTEC posed a substantial danger to plant workers, emergency responders, and the general public,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This prosecution sends the message that hazardous waste generators must properly handle hazardous wastes or potentially face felony prosecution for their illegal conduct.
“Unpermitted storage of hazardous waste that endangers Kentuckians will not be tolerated,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “I want to commend the collaborative efforts of the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection and EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division on the investigation of the illegal conduct of GOTEC and its General Manager, which averted a potential disaster.”
“Companies that cut corners by accumulating hazardous wastes — such the hundreds of drums of flammable and toxic solvents hidden around the site in this case — rather than disposing of them properly endanger communities, workers, and first responders,” said EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Jeffrey A. Hall. “Such dangerous neglect is precisely what the law forbids. This case demonstrates cooperative federalism in action. The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection’s inspection program found persistent, intentional violations of the law while EPA’s criminal investigative and forensic expertise ensured that the company was held criminally accountable.”
GOTEC produced parts for the use of manufacturing vehicles in Williamstown, Kentucky. As part of the production process, it applied coatings and adhesives to metal parts and generated hazardous waste, including spent solvents listed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
RCRA establishes a comprehensive cradle-to-grave program to regulate the generation, transportation, treatment, and disposal of hazardous wastes to protect human health and the environment. It prohibits the storage of hazardous waste at industrial facilities for extended periods of time without a permit. According to court documents, on June 27, 2024, the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection conducted an inspection at GOTEC’s plant and discovered semi-trailers, shipping containers, and an abandoned warehouse containing 249, 55-gallon drums of hazardous waste and approximately 27 cubic yards of hazardous waste stored in cardboard, wooden crates, and yellow totes.
GOTEC admitted that between January 2022 and November 2024 it did not properly dispose of all the hazardous waste it was generating, including hazardous waste that had been accumulating at the facility since 2022. GOTEC admitted that it stopped properly disposing of hazardous due to staffing issues, and decreased revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather, it improperly accumulated and stored hazardous waste at the facility without a RCRA hazardous waste storage permit.
EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Senior Trial Attorney Matthew Morris of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
Auto Parts Manufacturer and General Manager Sentenced for Illegal Storage of Hazardous WasteRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – GOTEC Plus Sun, LLC (GOTEC), a Delaware company, pleaded guilty on Friday before Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to illegal storage of hazardous waste. GOTEC was sentenced to pay a $275,000 fine and to serve a one-year term of probation.
On March 30, 2026, the Court sentenced Natalie Fehse, the former General Manager of the GOTEC facility, to five years of probation, including a special condition of 10 months of home confinement, and a $5,000 fine for her role in the illegal storage of hazardous waste.
GOTEC produced parts for the use of manufacturing vehicles in Williamstown, Kentucky. As part of the production process, it applied coatings and adhesives to metal parts and generated hazardous waste, including spent solvents listed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
RCRA established a comprehensive cradle-to-grave program to regulate the generation, transportation, treatment, and disposal of hazardous wastes to protect human health and the environment. It prohibits the storage of hazardous waste at industrial facilities for extended periods of time without a permit. According to court documents, on June 27, 2024, the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection conducted an inspection at GOTEC’s plant and discovered semi-trailers, shipping containers, and an abandoned warehouse containing 249, 55-gallon drums of hazardous waste and approximately 27 cubic yards of hazardous waste stored in cardboard, wooden crates, and yellow totes.
GOTEC admitted that between January 2022 and November 2024 it did not properly dispose of all the hazardous waste it was generating, including hazardous waste that had been accumulating at the facility since 2022. GOTEC admitted that it stopped properly disposing of hazardous due to staffing issues, and decreased revenue during the COVID shutdown. Rather, it improperly accumulated and stored hazardous waste at the facility without a RCRA hazardous waste storage permit.
“The illegal accumulation and storage of hundreds of containers of hazardous waste at GOTEC posed a substantial danger to plant workers, emergency responders, and the general public,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This prosecution sends the message that hazardous waste generators must properly handle hazardous wastes or potentially face felony prosecution for their illegal conduct.
“Unpermitted storage of hazardous waste that endangers Kentuckians will not be tolerated,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “I want to commend the collaborative efforts of the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection and EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division on the investigation of the illegal conduct of GOTEC and its General Manager, which averted a potential disaster.”
“Companies that cut corners by accumulating hazardous wastes—such the hundreds of drums of flammable and toxic solvents hidden around the site in this case—rather than disposing of them properly endanger communities, workers, and first responders,” said EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Jeffrey A. Hall. “Such dangerous neglect is precisely what the law forbids. This case demonstrates cooperative federalism in action. The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection’s inspection program found persistent, intentional violations of the law while EPA’s criminal investigative and forensic expertise ensured that the company was held criminally accountable.”
EPA-CID-CID and Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield and Senior Trial Attorney Matthew Morris of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
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Boone County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Crittenden, Ky., man, Randall Kipling, 63, was sentenced on Thursday to 121 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, Kipling and his co-defendant, Mark Ball, were involved in distributing methamphetamine out of Kipling’s residence in Boone County. Kipling provided a vehicle and money that Ball used to engage in the drug trafficking. On February 23, 2023, law enforcement responded to an overdose at Kipling’s residence and Kipling was present with Ball and two others, who showed significant signs of intoxication and were taken to the hospital for treatment. Law enforcement searched Kipling’s residence and seized over 250 grams of methamphetamine, other controlled substances, and numerous drug paraphernalia items. Kipling admitted possessing the methamphetamine which the group intended to distribute.
Ball previously pleaded guilty to his role in the methamphetamine distribution and was sentenced to 126 months in March 2026.
Under federal law, Kipling 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 5 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and the Boone County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lawrence County Man Pleads Guilty to Water PollutionRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – A Martha, Ky., man, Josh Ferguson, 42, pleaded guilty on Tuesday before Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to knowingly discharging waste product into waters of the United States.
According to his plea agreement, in the fall of 2025, the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection (“Kentucky DEP”) received a tip about the discharge of “brine water,” a waste product of oil production, into the Left Fork Blaine Creek in Lawrence County. On September 3, 2025, a Kentucky DEP inspector investigated the site where Ferguson owned two oil production wells. A hose connected to a metal brine tank ran through a field to the Left Fork Blaine Creek, where it was actively discharging waste product into the waterway. Downstream of the discharge, the water was orange with no signs of life, and water samples indicated extremely elevated chloride levels. When interviewed by the Kentucky DEP inspector, Ferguson admitted that he had been discharging brine water into the creek in order to save money, that he did not have a permit to do so, and that the conduct had been ongoing for two years. The Left Fork Blaine Creek is a water of the United States.
“Dumping oil-production waste into Kentucky waterways to save money is both illegal and unacceptable,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This case reflects our commitment to protecting public health, enforcing the Clean Water Act against those who put profit over people, and safeguarding the natural resources that our communities rely on.”
“These ongoing discharges threatened the public and aquatic life downstream—putting profits over people and the environment,” said Leslie Y. Carroll, Acting Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Kentucky. “Clean water is one of Kentucky’s most valuable resources, and it must be protected. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that EPA and our enforcement partners will investigate violations and hold polluters accountable to protect human health and the environment.”
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Anthony R. Hatton, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by EPA-CID and Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Ferguson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 10. He faces a maximum of three years in prison and a minimum fine of not less than $5,000 per day of violation. 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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Ohio Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – A South Point, Ohio, man, Michael Merrick, 26, was sentenced on Tuesday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 360 months for the production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, in September 2024, a minor victim reported that she had been sexually assaulted by Merrick, and he had taken sexually explicit pictures of her using his phone. On September 27, 2024, law enforcement searched Merrick’s phone and located the sexually explicit photos. Merrick admitted to sexually abusing the minor victim and to producing sexually explicit images of the victim in Boyd County, Kentucky.
Under federal law, Merrick must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 25 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Todd Kelley, Ashland Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Ashland Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Rowan County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Morehead, Ky., man, Corey Skiles, 34, was sentenced on Monday to 160 months by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to his plea agreement, on September 28, 2024, law enforcement received information that Skiles planned to transport a large quantity of controlled substances to Perry County. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Skiles and found 776 grams of methamphetamine, 57.34 grams of fentanyl, digital scales, and $1,483 in cash.
Under federal law, Skiles 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.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Convicted Felon Federally Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearms in Connection to Fire in Lexington NeighborhoodRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.- A federal criminal complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court in Lexington on Monday charging a Lexington man, Jonathan Huff, 37, with illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to the criminal complaint, officers with Lexington Police Department, other emergency personnel, and federal agents were dispatched to a house fire on Orleans Circle in Fayette County. During a preliminary investigation, law enforcement determined Jonathan Huff was a resident of the house and involved in criminal activity. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Huff’s residence and vehicle. Two firearms were found inside the vehicle, and Huff admitted to possessing the firearms. Huff is a convicted felon originally from Indiana and prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The Lexington Police Department’s Hazardous Devices Unit, Lexington Fire Department Arson Investigators, FBI, and ATF are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.
“This case highlights how vital rapid intervention and coordination is when a threat to public safety emerges,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Thanks to the quick and coordinated efforts of our local and federal law enforcement partners, a dangerous situation was addressed, and a prohibited individual was taken into custody. Our Office will continue to act decisively to protect our communities.”
“The defendant in this investigation is federally prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior criminal conduct,” said John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division. “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) remain committed to prioritizing investigations that hold accountable individuals who pose a threat to public safety and the communities we serve. We are proud to partner with the Lexington Metro Police Department, Kentucky State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this investigation.”
“It takes all of us to keep our communities safe,” said Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department. “I want to thank all of our federal, state, and local partners who worked with the Lexington Police Department to investigate the Orlean Circle explosion. Our continued combined efforts help make a safer community for us all.”
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the criminal complaint. Assistant United States Attorney Cynthia Rieker is representing the United States in this case.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations. The Defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Management Company Agrees to Pay More Than $2 Million to Resolve Improper Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – An automotive management company, Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, Inc., agreed to pay $2,106,927 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, a federal law that prohibits the submission of false or fraudulent claims.
Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to provide emergency financial assistance to small American businesses struggling to pay employees and other expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Borrowers were required to certify in their applications that they were eligible for the requested loans and that the information they provided was true and accurate. Regulations provided various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of employees and exceptions for certain types of businesses operating as franchises, such as automotive dealerships.
The settlement resolves allegations that Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, Inc. falsely certified it was eligible to apply for and receive forgiveness for a first-draw PPP loan. Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, Inc. served as the management company for a network of automotive dealerships. Under the PPP, automotive dealerships were not required to count affiliates’ employees in their PPP applications if the dealerships qualified for the PPP’s franchise exception. Although Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, Inc. managed automotive dealerships, it did not operate as a franchise and thus was required to include its affiliates’ employees when considering PPP eligibility. The Government contends that, together with its affiliates, Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, Inc. had more than 500 employees and was therefore ineligible for its first-draw loan.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by a private citizen under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file a civil action on behalf of the United States, thereby bringing allegations of fraud to the Government’s attention, and share in any financial recovery. As part of this resolution, the individual who filed the qui tam complaint is eligible to receive a portion of the settlement proceeds. The civil case is captioned United States ex rel. David Reed v. Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, Inc., Case No. 2:25-CV-00084-SCM.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Stubblebine, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
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Louisville Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Louisville, Ky., woman, Sarah Morris, 33, was sentenced on Thursday to 80 months by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to her plea agreement, between December 2023 and January 2025, Morris developed relationships with suppliers that allowed her to regularly obtain pound quantities of methamphetamine from them. Morris then regularly supplied multiple customers, including those who Morris knew who were distributing methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Kentucky. On some occasions, drug traffickers traveled to Louisville to obtain methamphetamine, and on other occasions, Morris traveled to Eastern Kentucky to deliver the methamphetamine.
Specifically, on January 22, 2025, Morris traveled from Louisville to Eastern Kentucky to deliver three pounds of methamphetamine. Morris had distributed a portion of the methamphetamine when law enforcement approached a building where Morris and others were located. When law enforcement approached, an individual in that building threw the majority of the methamphetamine that Morris had brought into a fire. Morris admitted that the amount that was destroyed in the fire was about two pounds.
Under federal law, Morris must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Armed Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington man, Laurance Newby, 38, was sentenced on Wednesday to 180 months by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to his plea agreement, between December 2024 until June 2025, law enforcement used a confidential informant to purchase fentanyl from Newby on three occasions. On June 25, 2025, a trained drug-detection dog gave a positive alert for Newby’s car. Law enforcement approached the vehicle and Newby fled on foot, eventually being arrested. A search of Newby’s vehicle resulted in the recovery of a backpack containing a loaded Glock 26 firearm and 996.4 grams of cocaine, as well as 439.8 grams of fentanyl in the trunk of the car. Newby admitted that he intended to distribute the drugs located in the vehicle and that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
Under federal law, Newby 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.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Walker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); US Secret Service; FBI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Marshals Service; IRS- Criminal Investigations; U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
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Lincoln County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Waynesburg, Ky., man, Jasper McCann, 43, was sentenced on Tuesday to 120 months by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, on May 12, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by McCann. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement located digital scales, four firearms, and approximately 206 grams of methamphetamine. McCann admitted to possessing the methamphetamine with intent to distribute it to others.
McCann had previously been convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree in January 2013.
Under federal law, McCann 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.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Aaron Noel, Mt. Sterling Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Mt. Sterling Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Former USP Big Sandy Lieutenant Sentenced for Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
A Harold, Kentucky, man, Michael Childers, 47, was sentenced today to 17 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for falsification of records.
Childers was a Lieutenant at United States Penitentiary Big Sandy, located in Inez, Kentucky. According to his plea agreement, on April 13, 2021, Childers was in the lieutenants’ office, along with Lieutenant Terry Melvin, Lieutenant Kevin Pearce, Case Management Coordinator Samuel Patrick, and Captain’s Secretary Clinton Pauley, when an inmate who had requested protective custody was brought into the lieutenants’ office. The inmate pleaded for protective custody and then was assaulted by staff members without justification.
After the assault, Childers wrote an incident report in which he falsely claimed that the inmate had struck him with his head as well as a closed fist. Childers admitted he wrote these things knowing they were false, but did so in an attempt to impede the administration of justice regarding the investigation of the unlawful assault on the inmate.
“Today’s sentence marks a significant moment of accountability. BOP personnel are entrusted with authority and responsibility — positions that demand integrity, judgment, and a commitment to the rule of law. Instead, these defendants abused that authority, not only by engaging in unlawful conduct, but by taking steps to impede justice and conceal the truth,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Our office remains committed to pursuing justice wherever the facts lead and such misconduct will be met with accountability.”
“The subject abused his position of power to lie about the assault of an inmate in an effort to cover up illegal actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “The FBI will continue to hold accountable law enforcement officers who exploit their authority and damage the public's trust placed in them.”
“Today’s sentence underscores the serious nature of this misconduct and the violation of civil rights it involved,” said Federal Bureau of Prisons Director William K. Marshall III. “The Federal Bureau of Prisons will not tolerate abuse of authority and is committed to holding individuals accountable while ensuring the safety of those in our custody.”
Childers is the final defendant to be sentenced for the assault. Melvin pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights and violating an individual’s rights under the color of law and was sentenced in April 2026 to 48 months. Patrick and Pauley pleaded guilty for their roles in the assaults of inmates and were sentenced in November 2023 to 36 and 40 months, respectively. Pearce was convicted of writing false reports that covered up the assaults of inmates and was sentenced to 66 months. Finally, Ryan Elliott, also a former USP Big Sandy lieutenant, pleaded guilty to assaulting an inmate and writing a false report about the assault of a second inmate in an unrelated incident. Elliott was sentenced in March 2024 to 12 months and one day.
Under federal law, Childers 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 one year.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Loux of the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Chicago Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by DOJ-OIG and the FBI.
Former USP Big Sandy Lieutenant Sentenced for Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Harold, Ky., man, Michael Childers, 47, was sentenced on Wednesday to 17 months by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for falsification of records.
Childers was a Lieutenant at United States Penitentiary Big Sandy, located in Inez, Ky. According to his plea agreement, on April 13, 2021, Childers was in the lieutenants’ office, along with Lieutenant Terry Melvin, Lieutenant Kevin Pearce, Case Management Coordinator Samuel Patrick, and Captain’s Secretary Clinton Pauley, when an inmate who had requested protective custody was brought into the lieutenants’ office. The inmate pleaded for protective custody and then was assaulted by staff members without justification.
After the assault, Childers wrote an incident report in which he falsely claimed that the inmate had struck him with his head as well as a closed fist. Childers admitted he wrote these things knowing they were false, bud did so in an attempt to impede the administration of justice regarding the investigation of the unlawful assault on the inmate.
Childers is the final defendant to be sentenced for the assault. Melvin pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights and violating an individual’s rights under the color of law and was sentenced in April 2026 to 48 months. Patrick and Pauley– pleaded guilty for their roles in the assaults of inmates and were sentenced in November 2023 to 36 and 40 months, respectively. Pearce was convicted of writing false reports that covered up the assaults of inmates and was sentenced to 66 months. Finally, Ryan Elliott, also a former USP Big Sandy lieutenant, pleaded guilty to assaulting an inmate and writing a false report about the assault of a second inmate in an unrelated incident. Elliott was sentenced in March 2024 to 12 months and 1 day.
"Today’s sentence underscores the serious nature of this misconduct and the violation of civil rights it involved," said Federal Bureau of Prisons Director William K. Marshall III. "The Federal Bureau of Prisons will not tolerate abuse of authority and is committed to holding individuals accountable while ensuring the safety of those in our custody.”
“Today’s sentence marks a significant moment of accountability. BOP personnel are entrusted with authority and responsibility—positions that demand integrity, judgment, and a commitment to the rule of law. Instead, these defendants abused that authority, not only by engaging in unlawful conduct, but by taking steps to impede justice and conceal the truth,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Our office remains committed to pursuing justice wherever the facts lead and such misconduct will be met with accountability.”
"The subject abused his position of power to lie about the assault of an inmate in an effort to cover up illegal actions,” said Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office. “The FBI will continue to hold accountable law enforcement officers who exploit their authority and damage the public's trust placed in them."
Under federal law, Childers 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 one year.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Matthew Loux, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Chicago Field Office; and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by DOJ-OIG and the FBI.
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Bourbon County Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Paris, Ky., man, Timothy Ray Dale, 64, was sentenced on Tuesday to 360 months by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for the production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, on October 30, 2023, a witness reported to law enforcement that there were explicit images of minors located on Dale’s phone. Law enforcement searched the device and found more than 50 sexually explicit visual depictions of two minor victims that were captured between September 30, 2023, and October 29, 2023. Dale admitted, that on two or more occasions, he used minor victims to produce explicit depictions of child pornography.
Under federal law, Dale 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 fifteen years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Chief Mark Burden, Paris Police Department; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Paris Police Department, and Kentucky State Police. The Commonwealth Attorney’s Office for the 14th Judicial Circuit also provided significant assistance to the investigation and prosecution of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Pulaski County Woman Sentenced for Armed Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Science Hill, Ky., woman, Vicki Allred, 41, was sentenced on Thursday to 60 months by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to her plea agreement, on April 23, 2024, Allred possessed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intention of distributing it. Specifically, during the execution of a search warrant at Allred’s residence and her box trailer in the driveway, law enforcement recovered more than 280 grams of methamphetamine packaged in distribution quantities, additional plastic bags, and digital scales. Additionally, from a lockbox containing two bags of methamphetamine, law enforcement found a pistol, a loaded magazine, and four sets of digital scales. From Allred’s trailer, law enforcement also recovered a rifle, four loaded AR magazines, and a shotgun with ammunition. Allred admitted that she possessed the firearms to protect herself from the dangers associated with drug trafficking.
Under federal law, Allred must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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London Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A London man, Jimmy Barrett, 47, was sentenced on Wednesday to 220 months by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, on September 13, 2024, Barrett was driving back to London, Ky., after meeting with his source of supply in the Louisville, Ky., area, where he obtained approximately six pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement attempted to execute a traffic stop on Barrett’s vehicle, but he refused, leading police on a high-speed chase through Laurel County. Barrett ultimately wrecked his vehicle from the police chase, a search of which led to the location and seizure of the six pounds of methamphetamine. Barrett admitted to intending to distribute this methamphetamine to other mid- and lower-level methamphetamine traffickers in the London and Corbin areas.
Under federal law, Barrett must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Dotson is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lexington Man Convicted of Conspiracies to Commit Healthcare Fraud and Violate the Anti-Kickback Statute at Sober HomesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.- A Lexington man, Dashawn Dawkins, 34, was convicted on Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Lexington for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and conspiracy to receive kickbacks. Dawkins was convicted of the charges following a 3-day trial.
Dawkins was a peer support specialist at Serenity Keeper’s, LLC (“Serenity Keepers”), a sober home company based in Fayette County, Ky., that purported to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services and housing for individuals enrolled in its program. The evidence at trial showed that Mr. Dawkins received $62,750 in illegal kickbacks for the ordering of urine drug testing at Serenity Keepers that cost Kentucky Medicaid and Medicare a combined $2,569,946. The evidence further showed that the urine drug testing was fraudulent in that it was not ordered by a treating medical provider, nor were the results reviewed by a treating medical provider. Instead, more than 9,000 urine drug tests were ordered under the stolen identification number and forged signature of a Nurse Practitioner who was briefly associated with Serenity Keepers.
The evidence also showed that Serenity Keepers billed for fraudulent peer support services that were not provided at all and were not supervised by licensed professionals, as required by Medicaid regulations. The company billed for 6 hours of peer support services a day for every patient in their care regardless of whether that was provided, including services purportedly provided by Dawkins. Medicaid paid Serenity Keepers $9,077,260 for behavior health claims that were not provided in accordance with Medicaid regulations, or were not provided at all.
Dawkins was the fifth defendant convicted as part of the investigation into Serenity Keepers’ scheme. Delores Jordan, the owner of Serenity Keepers, and Jerome Davis, her boyfriend, both pled guilty to their role in the kickback conspiracy. Lily Bell, who paid the kickbacks to Dawkins, Jordan, and Davis, and who facilitated the abuse of the Nurse Practitioner’s stolen identifiers, pled guilty to aggravated identity theft. Ernest Williams, who ran several of the sober homes for Serenity Keepers, pled guilty to a health care fraud conspiracy involving fraudulent urine drug testing and fraudulent peer support services.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky Attorney General, Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate K. Smith.
Dawkins will appear for sentencing on July 9. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and any restitution determined by the Court. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., man, Ronald Jerome Woolfolk, Jr., 27, was sentenced on Tuesday to 34 months by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Woolfolk was employed as a licensed mortician apprentice at a funeral home in Fayette County. In his position, Woolfolk had access to the personal identifying information of clients and deceased persons, as well as the funeral home’s email address. According to his plea agreement, from on or about August 15, 2022, through October 16, 2023, Woolfolk defrauded a charity that financially supported families affected by the tragedy of losing a child. Using the funeral home’s email address, Woolfolk submitted approximately 23 requests to the charity seeking financial assistance on behalf of both real and fictitious deceased persons and their families. The requests contained false information and fictitious documentation to support the requests for funding, including fake invoices for funeral expenses, fake cremation certificates, and fabricated letters using the funeral home’s letterhead. Woolfolk directed the payments to a fake company he created. Of the approximately 23 fraudulent requests for assistance, Woolfolk sought assistance with funeral expenses for three real deceased babies/toddlers and two young adults. Neither the funeral home, nor the family members of the deceased, knew of Woolfolk’s actions.
In total, Woolfolk fraudulently obtained $11,929.49 from the charity.
Under federal law, Woolfolk, Jr., 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.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Robert Holman, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Kenton County Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Crescent Springs, Ky., man, Quenton Abell, 22, was sentenced on Monday to 60 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to his plea agreement, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Abell’s residence in Kenton County on August 25, 2025, after surveillance officers observed Abell outside his residence in possession of two firearms. During the search, law enforcement located two handguns and multiple magazines, including loaded extended magazines. Abell was aware at the time of the search that he had a prior felony conviction and was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Messages on Abell’s phone indicated that he was involved in buying and selling controlled substances while in possession of the firearms.
Abell was previously convicted in 2023 of Second Degree Assault and First Degree Wanton Endangerment in the Kenton County Circuit Court.
Under federal law, Abell 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.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Scott Hardcorn, Director of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Georgetown Woman Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Georgetown, Ky., woman, Mabel Francis Soto, 70, was sentenced on Tuesday to 60 months by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to her plea agreement, Soto conspired with her co-defendant, Taylor Burden, to sell drugs out of Soto’s residence in Georgetown, Kentucky. On October 19, 2022, after while surveilling Soto’s residence, a search warrant was obtained for Soto’s residence.
A search of Soto’s residence recovered more than 100 grams of fentanyl pills, crushed fentanyl pills, and a distribution quantity of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also found a handgun and approximately $251,100 in drug proceeds.
Burden was previously sentenced in January 2026 to 60 months in prison for his role in the fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
Under federal law, Soto must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 4years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Darin Allgood, Georgetown Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Georgetown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Manufacturing Company Agrees to Pay $887,234 to Resolve Improper Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Cold Spring-based manufacturer of custom screw machine parts, Segepo-FSM, Inc., agreed to pay $887,234 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, a federal law that prohibits the submission of false or fraudulent claims.
Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to provide emergency financial assistance to small American businesses struggling to pay employees and other expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Borrowers were required to certify in their applications that they were eligible for the requested loans and that the information they provided was true and accurate. Regulations provided various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of employees.
The settlement resolves allegations that Segepo-FSM, Inc. falsely certified it was eligible to apply for and receive forgiveness of its $503,900 second-draw PPP loan. Segepo-FSM, Inc. stated that it had fewer than 300 employees in its application. At the time of its loan and forgiveness applications, Segepo-FSM, Inc. was a subsidiary of Dentressangle. The Government contends that, together with its foreign affiliates, Segepo-FSM, Inc. had more than 300 employees and was therefore ineligible for that loan. Based on this false certification, SBA awarded and ultimately forgave Segepo-FSM, Inc.’s second-draw loan.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by a private citizen under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file a civil action on behalf of the United States, thereby bringing allegations of fraud to the Government’s attention, and share in any financial recovery. As part of this resolution, the individual who filed the qui tam complaint is eligible to receive a portion of the settlement proceeds. The civil case is captioned United States ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Segepo-FSM, Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-105-DLB-CJS.
This matter was handled by the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
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Ohio Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati man, Bryant Adams, 43, was sentenced on Thursday to 120 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, law enforcement used a cooperating witness to purchase 55.9 grams of methamphetamine from Adams on August 28, 2024. Adams agreed to make another sale of methamphetamine on September 3, 2024, and law enforcement arrested Adams when he arrived at the designated pickup location. Adams was found with 80.2 grams of methamphetamine and admitted distributing approximately one pound of methamphetamine per week in the six months leading up to his arrest.
Under federal law, Adams 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.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Director Scott Hardcorn, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Former Pain Clinic Owner Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone and MethadoneRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Chicago man, Ranjit Wahi, 78, was sentenced on Tuesday, to 29 months, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and methadone.
According to his plea agreement, beginning in 2019 and continuing through November 18, 2022, Wahi conspired with others to dispense controlled substances, including oxycodone and methadone, outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. As part of the conspiracy, Wahi employed Judith Harskey as a receptionist at Midwest Physician Pain Center, Wahi’s pain clinic in Chicago. During the conspiracy time period, patients regularly traveled to this clinic, and without seeing Wahi or any other doctor, paid Harskey cash in exchange for prescriptions that were previously signed by Wahi for oxycodone, methadone, and other controlled substances.
On November 18, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Midwest Physician Pain Clinic and recovered 541 blank prescriptions from Harskey’s office, including 30 from her purse, that Wahi had signed in advance.
Harskey pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute oxycodone and methadone in 2024 and was sentenced to 36 months in prison.
Under federal law, Wahi 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 one year.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Woodford County Woman Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., woman, Melissa Wilhoite, 40, was sentenced on Wednesday to 180 months by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove for two counts of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury.
According to her plea agreement, on November 22, 2024, emergency personnel responded to an overdose at the Woodford County Detention Center. It was discovered that after Wilhoite’s arrest on November 21, 2024, she smuggled a quantity of fentanyl into the facility, and then distributed it to two of her cell mates. Those two victim inmates exhibited signs of an overdose, including loss of consciousness and discoloration, and were transported to a hospital for further treatment. Wilhoite later admitted to distributing fentanyl inside the facility.
Under federal law, Wilhoite must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will each be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Ron Young, Versailles Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Versailles Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Walker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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London Woman Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy Involving COVID Relief LoansRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A London woman, Nicole Pennington, 50, was sentenced on Tuesday to 44 months by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, arising out of a scheme to fraudulently obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Program loans.
In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States established the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which provided forgivable loans to small businesses as an incentive to keep their workers on the payroll, and expanded funding for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which provided low-interest loans to small businesses to cover operational expenses. The Small Business Administration (SBA) administered both programs. According to her plea agreement, from March 2020 to May 2022, Nicole Pennington devised a scheme to defraud the government by making materially false statements on PPP and EIDL applications. In total, Pennington submitted about 30 PPP and EIDL applications on behalf of actual and fabricated businesses associated with herself and her husband, Joshua Pennington. All of these applications contained material falsehoods, and Nicole Pennington supported them with fraudulent tax returns, financial statements, and other records. Six of the loan applications were approved for a total of $1,090,398.35 in fraudulently obtained SBA loan proceeds.
After receiving the loan proceeds, Nicole Pennington and her co-defendant, Joshua Pennington, laundered more than $1,000,000 in criminally derived funds by engaging in a series of transactions in amounts of $10,000 or more. Specifically, they used the money to renovate their kitchen, pay for plastic surgery, purchase a Viking River Cruise trip, withdraw cash, purchase vehicles, and pay off loans and mortgages.
Joshua Pennington was previously sentenced to 22 months in prison for his role in the money laundering conspiracy.
Under federal law, Nicole Pennington must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for two years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Kelly K. Moening, Special Agent in Charge, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Great Lakes Field Division; and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Detroit Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the IRS-CI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Smith prosecuted the sentencing on behalf of the United States.
The Fraud Section leads the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the enactment of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds.
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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Gallatin County Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Warsaw, Ky., man, David Vonarb, 26, was sentenced on Friday to 132 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for the distribution of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, on June 13, 2024, an online covert employee with the FBI engaged in a direct-messaging conversation with user “dirtydad69” on an end-to-end encrypted application, in which the user distributed child pornography to the online covert employee. Following the direct messaging conversation, the user continued to distribute depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in various chatrooms. In total, the user distributed at least 13 videos and 8 images. Law enforcement discovered that the user was Vonarb, and on October 23, 2024, law enforcement searched his residence, and he admitted that he used the encrypted application to receive, view, and distribute child pornography, and that he had used the application the day before the search. A forensic review of Vonarb’s laptop revealed evidence of thousands of images and videos of child pornography.
Under federal law, Vonarb must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 25 years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Boone County Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Walton, Ky., man, Ronald Knox, 55, was sentenced on Friday to 168 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for the distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, in January 2025, Knox distributed a depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct to an undercover law enforcement officer by means of a BitTorrent peer-to-peer network. In May 2025, law enforcement seized Knox’s devices from his residence. A search of those devices revealed a significant amount of child pornography, including the distributed image and other depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Knox admitted that he viewed child pornography and that he had been doing so for years.
Under federal law, Knox must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Craig Patrick Sorrell, Campbell County Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Campbell County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Spievack is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Three Sentenced in Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A group of defendants from Somerset, Ky., were sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for their roles in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.
Robert Allen, 55, Larry Ellison, 41, and Rebecca Garlandios, 45, were sentenced to 150 months, 164 months, and 70 months and two days, respectively, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to their plea agreements, from January 2024 through December 19, 2024, Allen, Ellison, and Garlandios conspired with each other to distribute methamphetamine from local sources of supply to purchasers in the Pulaski County area. Specifically, on January 23, 2024, law enforcement worked with a confidential informant to purchase two ounces of methamphetamine from Allen, who, during a subsequent traffic stop, was found with 56 grams of methamphetamine on his person. Law enforcement conducted a search of the house shared by Allen and his sister Garlandios that same day, and recovered a baggy from the bottom of a toilet bowl, a container Garlandios attempted to conceal in her pants, digital scales and baggies, and more than 48 grams of methamphetamine.
On December 19, 2024, law enforcement stopped Ellison during a traffic stop and recovered empty plastic bags, digital scales, and a bag containing 29.59 grams of methamphetamine. Ellison admitted that the methamphetamine came from a series of regular deliveries from a local source of supply, including a recent half-pound delivery of methamphetamine to his girlfriend, Garlandios. Ellison also confirmed that at the time of the earlier January 2024 traffic stop, he regularly drove Allen to deliver two ounces of methamphetamine to a customer.
Under federal law, Allen, Ellison, and Garlandios must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon their release from prison, they will each be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Louisville Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Louisville, Ky., man, Keith Wayne Bishop, 47, was sentenced on Tuesday to 120 months, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, beginning in January 2023 through September 2023, Bishop conspired with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Specifically, during this timeframe, Bishop was obtaining upwards of pound quantities of methamphetamine, which he would then distribute to mid- and low-level drug dealers and end drug users in Laurel County. Bishop admitted to also supplying several other drug dealers in Knox, Whitley, Floyd, and Pike Counties.
Under federal law, Bishop 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.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Sheriff Mike Smith, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, and Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Dotson is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Ohio Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati, Ohio, man, Brian E. Hunter, 33, was sentenced on Friday, to 48 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court records, on May 26, 2025, law enforcement stopped a vehicle driven by Hunter for traffic violations. During the search of the vehicle, law enforcement located remnants of marijuana and a stolen, loaded pistol on the driver’s side floorboard. Hunter also had a large amount of cash in his pocket that was not seized. Hunter was aware at the time of the traffic stop that he had prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Hunter was previously convicted in 2013 of Having Weapons Under Disability for illegally possessing a firearm after his alleged involvement in a shootout at the A to Z market in Cincinnati, and in 2014 for Felonious Assault and Trafficking in Cocaine.
Under federal law, Hunter 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.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Les Hill, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Knox County Man Sentenced for Making False Declarations in Bankruptcy ProceedingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Barboursville, Ky., man, Ray Dean, 58, was sentenced on Friday, to 5 months in prison and 5 months home detention, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for making false declarations in a bankruptcy proceeding.
According to his plea agreement, on April 13, 2021, Dean filed an application, as “Ray Dean jr”, for funds under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which the federal government administered to give economic relief to small businesses during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The Small Business Administration (SBA) approved the application for $200,000. Before receiving the funds, Dean electronically signed a Loan Authorization and Agreement in which he agreed that he would use the proceeds of the loan solely as working capital for his business to alleviate economic injury. After receiving the $200,000 loan, he withdrew the money, deposited it into a bank account associated with a church of which he was the pastor. Subsequently, Dean used $92,000 of the funds to purchase mobile homes.
On June 20, 2024, Dean filed a petition for bankruptcy and stated that his only liability was the $200,000 EIDL. As part of the bankruptcy filing, Dean was required to disclose any checking, savings, or other financial accounts. Dean only disclosed two accounts with a combined balance of $105 and fraudulently concealed his interest in the mobile homes and the bank account, which still had over $100,000 worth of EIDL proceeds.
Under federal law, Dean 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.
Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Lesley Allison, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by USPIS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Boone prosecuted the sentencing on behalf of the United States.
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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Kenton County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Covington man, Lamar Crawley, 42, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 60 months in prison for the distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, law enforcement identified Crawley as a methamphetamine and cocaine supplier, and used a confidential informant to make three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from him in April and May 2025. In total, Crawley distributed 1.954 grams of cocaine and 20.14 grams of methamphetamine to the confidential informant.
Under federal law, Crawley 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.
Paul C. McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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