Eastern District of Kentucky
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Darknet Vendor Sentenced for Conspiracy to Sell Counterfeit DrugsRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Lebanese and Italian national, Alessandro Sabbagh, 27, was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier to 78 months in prison, for conspiracy to sell counterfeit drugs and knowingly causing the sale of a counterfeit drug.
According to his plea agreement, between January 2017 and October 2021, Sabbagh conspired with others to manufacture and sell counterfeit generic alprazolam pills. Sabbagh and his co-conspirators, without authorization, created pills stamped with manufacturer imprints designed to replicate the appearance of actual alprazolam pills. The benzodiazepine-class drugs used by the co-conspirators in the counterfeit pills have no accepted medical use in the United States. Sabbagh and his co-conspirators then sold these counterfeit pills in the Eastern District of Kentucky and throughout the United States via darknet marketplaces, receiving payment for the sales in cryptocurrencies. Sabbagh managed multiple vendor accounts across several darknet marketplaces and was responsible for sales to customers and providing lists of customer orders to co-conspirators who manufactured and shipped the counterfeit alprazolam pills. Over the course of the conspiracy, Sabbagh and his co-conspirators trafficked counterfeit alprazolam valued at more than $25 million.
Under federal law, Sabbagh 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. Sabbagh must also forfeit cryptocurrency seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and agreed to the imposition of a $5,055,377 forfeiture money judgment, representing the amount of proceeds he received from the scheme.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Cincinnati Field Division, Quincy Barnett, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Jeff Couch, Manchester Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, IRS, FBI, and Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Rosenberg is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Eric Kelsey Shepherd, 30, was sentenced on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, to 50 years in prison, for production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, in January 2022, law enforcement was contacted about a 12-year-old victim who was sexually exploited by an adult male. Further investigation revealed that Shepherd, then 27 years-old, met the victim on Snapchat, where he initially claimed he was 17 years-old. Shepherd met the minor victim on numerous occasions to engage in sexual activity, some of which the victim alleged involved violence against the victim. Shepherd took images and videos of many of the sexual interactions, which were located on both the victim’s and Shepherd’s cellphones. Shepherd has a prior state conviction for sexual abuse and unlawful transaction with a minor and, as a result, will face enhanced penalties.
Under federal law, Shepherd must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department; and Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by HSI; Lexington Police Department; and Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Chase Allen Barnett, 39, was sentenced on Thursday to 200 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for three counts of distribution of a mixture containing methamphetamine and fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court proceedings, between February 10, 2023, and February 20, 2023, Barnett possessed and distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl to a confidential informant out of a hotel in Lexington. On February 21, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant of a hotel room occupied by Barnett and found fentanyl, methamphetamine, digital scales, drug packaging materials, drug debt ledgers, $6,234 in cash, ammunition and firearm magazines. In total, Barnett distributed or intended to distribute 197.299 grams of fentanyl and 379.894 grams of methamphetamine.
Under federal law, Barnett 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 8 years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Commander Kalan Perdue, Gateway High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and Gateway HIDTA Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Baker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Former Blackberry Volunteer Fire Chief Sentenced for COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The former Fire Chief of the Blackberry Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) in Pike County, Christopher Chapman, 36, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to 12 months in prison, for theft of public funds.
In 2021, as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, to support communities and local governments that were struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government distributed emergency funding to local governments to maintain vital local services. In Spring 2022, Pike County local government authorized the distribution of $50,000 of these funds through grants that were allocated for the purchase of turnout gear for fire and rescue, along with equipment and building maintenance. Chapman applied for these grants on behalf of BVFD, and the local government awarded the full amount of the grants.
According to his plea agreement, on April 11, 2022, Chapman created a company named Rural Public Safety Equipment, LLC. (RPSE), as the sole organizer and member, and registered it with the West Virginia Secretary of State. Chapman then informed members of the BVFD that he could obtain fire safety equipment at cost from a safety equipment company, and he failed to disclose that he was the owner of the company. The fire department pre-paid and ordered $76,854.50 worth of fire and safety equipment from RPSE. Instead of using the prepayments from BVFD to fulfill the orders, Chapman never fulfilled any fire and safety equipment orders, spent all the money on his own personal use, and withdrew $61,500 in cash from the RPSE bank account.
Under federal law, Chapman 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. Chapman was also ordered to pay $76,854.50 in restitution.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Bruce Roberts, Interim Executive Director, Kentucky Fire Commission, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky Fire Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Dunn-Pirio is prosecuting the matter on behalf of the United States.
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. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
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Jury Convicts Ohio Man of Armed Cocaine Trafficking and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati, Ohio, man was convicted on Thursday by a federal jury in Covington for armed cocaine trafficking and illegal firearm possession.
After slightly under three hours of deliberation, following a three-day trial, the jury convicted 33-year-old Anthony Wynn of one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to testimony at trial, in August 2020, law enforcement stopped a vehicle being driven by Wynn to investigate a possible DUI. During the stop, officers located two bags of crack cocaine and a bag of marijuana on Wynn’s person. Officers also found a loaded firearm in the glove box and a digital scale in the center console. An additional loaded firearm was found in the trunk. Wynn possessed the firearms to protect himself, drugs, and drug proceeds from robbery. Also, Wynn was aware at the time of his arrest that he had prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Wynn was previously convicted of facilitation of robbery and first degree trafficking in a controlled substance in Campbell County Circuit Court in 2010; and first degree trafficking in a controlled substance, cocaine, and two counts of first degree trafficking in a controlled substance, heroin, in Kenton County Circuit Court in 2015.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Brian Valenti, Covington Police Department, jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and Covington Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Bracke and Joel King.
Wynn will appear for sentencing on July 16, 2025. He faces a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of life in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
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Frankfort Company Pays More Than $3.8 Million to Resolve Improper Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Frankfort-based steel wheel manufacturer, Topy America, Inc., agreed to pay the United States $3,840,188.19 to resolve allegations that it improperly obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for which it was not eligible.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020 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 SBA. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify 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 Topy America falsely certified it was eligible to apply for and receive forgiveness of a second-draw PPP loan. In January 2021, Topy America applied for a second-draw PPP loan for $2,000,000, representing that it had fewer than 300 employees. The government contends that, together with its foreign affiliates, Topy America had more than 300 employees and was therefore ineligible for that loan. Based on its false certification, Topy America received the loan and ultimately received forgiveness of the loan. Topy America cooperated with the United States’ investigation and agreed to compensate the United States for its error.
“Our office is committed to holding accountable businesses and individuals who improperly obtained COVID-19 relief funds,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Paul McCaffrey. “Topy America quickly and responsibly addressed the concerns raised by the United States, and we expect that other PPP recipients who did not follow the applicable rules will do the same.”
“This settlement reflects SBA’s commitment to identifying and pursuing those who perpetrated fraud on the Paycheck Protection Program," said SBA's General Counsel Wendell Davis. "This settlement also exhibits the excellent results from effective SBA and DOJ collaboration to combat the unconscionable misuse of critical pandemic relief programs. SBA continues its enhanced efforts to uncover such misconduct and recover those funds on behalf of the American taxpayers.”
The Government’s work in this investigation illustrates its commitment to combatting COVID-19 fraud. The United States encourages anyone with information about potential fraud involving COVID-19 to 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. PPP recipients also may voluntarily disclose self-discovered evidence of fraud involving the PPP to U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
The settlement resolves lawsuits brought by private citizens 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 individuals who filed the qui tam complaints are eligible to receive a portion of the settlement proceeds. The civil cases are captioned United States ex rel. GNGH2 Inc. v. Topy America, Inc., Case No. 3:24-cv-0003-GFVT and United States ex rel. Blockquote, Inc. v. Topy America, Inc., Case No. 3:24-cv-0028.
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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Woodford County Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., man, Austin David Stafford, 31, was sentenced on Friday to a total of 540 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for production of child pornography.
The sentence is the result of two separate court cases against Stafford. According to his plea agreement from the first court case, Stafford and his co-defendant and girlfriend, Crystal Campbell, now deceased, used a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating visual depictions of that conduct on two occasions, once at the couple’s trailer and once in an outdoor setting. Stafford’s Facebook records contained two instances of Stafford distributing the videos.
According to his plea agreement from the second court case, law enforcement was alerted to Stafford because of a minor victim’s father seeing a group message on Facebook Messenger that contained nude photos of the minor victim. An investigation revealed that Stafford was using a fake persona, “Craig Wright,” on social media to lure the minor victim into an online romance. Under this persona, he obtained intimate details and visual depictions of the minor victim. He then created additional fake personas and used the information that he had learned about the victim to extort and manipulate the minor victim. The “sextortion” scheme led the minor victim to send more sexually explicit visual depictions to Stafford and to engage in sexual acts with him. Eventually, Stafford communicated with James Campbell, 26, of Versailles, Ky., Stafford’s co-defendant, and on June 10, 2022, coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct with Campbell and film it, under the guise that one of his fake personas would hurt her family if she didn’t comply. Stafford admitted to orchestrating the sexual exchange with the victim and Campbell, and that Campbell knowingly and willingly aided and abetted the product of the June 10th series.
Campbell is scheduled to be sentenced on April 21, 2025.
Under federal law, Stafford 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 30 years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by FBI and KSP. Hart Megibben, Commonwealth Attorney for the 53rd Judicial Circuit, and Assistant Commonwealth Attorney, Jon Fee, also provided significant assistance to the investigation and prosecution of Stafford’s second 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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Jessamine County Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Wilmore, Ky., man, Jason Horton, 43, was sentenced on Monday, by U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 35 years in prison, for production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, in October 2023, law enforcement received a tip that Horton, a previously convicted sex offender, was using online platforms to engage in the sexual exploitation of minors. Law enforcement obtained search warrants for Horton’s residence and electronic devices. On Horton’s phone, it was revealed that he engaged in online conversations with minors in which he solicited them to produce sexually explicit images. Horton specifically admitted to engaging in an online relationship with a 16-year-old victim, conducted primarily via Snapchat, and persuading her to create sexually explicit images which were transmitted to him via the internet.
Horton also admitted that he was required to register as a sex offender at the time of this offense, due to a 2004 Kentucky conviction for rape and sodomy in the second degree.
Under federal law, Horton must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Horton’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sherriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by HIS, Kentucky State Police, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth prosecuted 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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Former Nurse Sentenced for Tampering with MedicationRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., woman, Abigail Hall, 51, was sentenced on Monday to 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, for tampering with a consumer product.
According to her plea agreement, between January 2023 and August 2023, Hall worked as a contract registered nurse at several facilities in Kentucky, including a health care facility in Lawrenceburg, Ky., that focused on care for the elderly and infirm. Hall admitted that on August 27, 2023, she took morphine that had been prescribed for three patients that she was treating at the healthcare facility, all of whom had significant disease and pain concerns. Hall replaced the stolen morphine with water and blue food coloring, to resemble the real medication. Ultimately, Hall took at least seven syringes of stolen morphine and administered the tampered morphine to at least one of the patients.
Under federal law, Hall 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 three years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and George A. Scavdis, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by FDA-OCI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Ohio Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Columbus, Ohio, man, Jeffrey Headley, 61, was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves to 22 years in prison for the production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, law enforcement learned that the victim of a known series of child sexual abuse imagery was located in the Eastern District of Kentucky. The images were originally shared on a Russian-based image sharing website in May 2013 and then distributed worldwide. Based upon the pictures of the offender and the account information of the individual that posted the images, law enforcement identified Headley as the person responsible for creating the images. Headley admitted to producing the images of the victim at a time when the victim was in his care, custody, and control.
Under federal law, Headley must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by HSI and Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Two Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine in Northern KentuckyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – Two men, John Christopher Davis, 54, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Douglas DeAngelo Wade, 45, of Covington, Kentucky, were sentenced on Friday, to 188 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning. Each was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. In addition, Davis was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and Wade was convicted of distribution of cocaine.
According to their plea agreements and other court filings, from approximately January 1, 2023, through January 26, 2024, Davis and Wade conspired with co-defendants, Terry Mitchell, Michael Labordeaux, Stephen Russ, Gregory Soard and others to knowingly distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine in Kenton County, Ky., and elsewhere. Wade was the head of the conspiracy and regularly supplied cocaine and cocaine base to Davis and others to distribute it.
Both Davis and Wade had prior drug trafficking convictions. Davis was previously convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, cocaine, in 2003 and 2006 in Kenton County Circuit Court. He was additionally convicted of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base in 2007 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Similarly, Wade was previously convicted of distribution of over 50 grams of cocaine base in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Soard was previously sentenced to 96 months in prison in January 2025. Russ was sentenced to 105 months in prison in December 2024. Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4, and Labordeaux is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9.
Under federal law, Davis and Wade must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon Davis’ release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for six years, and Wade will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for eight years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Brian Valenti, Covington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Covington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Boyd County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – An Ashland, Ky. man, Jere Rason Black, 31, was sentenced on Wednesday, by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to 70 months for three counts of distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, law enforcement received information that Black was distributing methamphetamine in the Greenup County area. Using a confidential informant, agents conducted three controlled purchases from Black, who distributed a total of 145.23 grams of methamphetamine.
Under federal law, Black must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Black’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Director Scott Hardcorn, Northeast Kentucky Drug Task Force, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by DEA, and the Northeast Kentucky Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Jury Convicts Ohio Man of Multiple Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – An Aberdeen, Ohio, man was convicted on Thursday by a federal jury in Covington for multiple drug trafficking charges.
After slightly over one hour of deliberation, following a four-day trial, the jury convicted 37-year-old Gary Cunningham, Jr. of one count of conspiracy with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and eight counts of distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to testimony at trial, law enforcement identified Frederick Overly III, as a source of supply for methamphetamine, and used a confidential informant to make eight controlled purchases from Overly. Each purchase was arranged by the informant calling Overly, who in turn indicated that he would need to get the methamphetamine from his supplier, Cunningham. Each time, Cunningham sold Overly the methamphetamine that Overly subsequently sold to the informant, totaling more than 50 grams.
Cunningham was previously convicted of three counts of first-degree trafficking of a controlled substance in Mason County Circuit Court in 2013, and second-degree robbery in Mason County Circuit Court in 2014.
Cunningham and Overly were indicted in July 2023. Overly pleaded guilty to his charges in August 2024.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Michael Stansbury, 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. Attorneys Tony Bracke and Drew Spievack.
Cunningham will appear for sentencing on May 29, 2025. He faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life 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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Northern Kentucky Man Sentenced for Extraterritorial Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Walton, Ky., man, Robert Maxwell Werner, 46, was sentenced on Friday to 30 years in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for extraterritorial production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, Werner is a U.S. citizen who was living in the Philippines from February 2021 through November 2021. During this time, Werner became the customer of a Filipino individual who would sell access to dozens of minor victims for in-person or livestreamed sexual acts. For several months, Werner paid this individual for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and multiple in‑person meetings with minor males in the Philippines. Specifically, Werner admitted to engaging in sexually explicit conduct with at least one minor for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct between July 2021 and November 2021, while in the Philippines. Werner further admitted to transporting that sexually explicit material into the United States.
Under federal law, Werner 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.
Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Paul McCaffrey for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit, with substantial assistance from the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth and Trial Attorney Rachel Rothberg, with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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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Kentucky Man Sentenced for Sexually Exploiting Minors in the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
A Kentucky man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in the Philippines.
According to court documents, from February 2021 through November 2021, while living in the Philippines, Robert Maxwell Werner, 46, of Walton, purchased access from a Filipino individual to dozens of minor victims for in-person, livestreamed, and recorded sexual acts. For several months, Werner paid this individual for custom-created CSAM, in which the individual would sexually abuse these minors and force the minors to engage in sexual acts together for foreign customers like Werner. Werner also paid the individual for five in‑person meetings with minors at hotels and rental properties in the Philippines. During those meetings, Werner sexually abused multiple minors. In exchange, Werner would provide money, food, clothing, and basic necessities for the minors, who lived in desperate circumstances.
As part of his plea agreement, Werner admitted to engaging in sexually explicit conduct with at least one minor for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct between July 2021 and November 2021, while in the Philippines. Werner further admitted to transporting that sexually explicit material into the United States. Additionally, once he returned to the United States, Werner continued to solicit CSAM from the individual for at least another month.
Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Paul McCaffrey for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth for the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Edgewood Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – An Edgewood, Ky. man, Eric Fultz, 52, was sentenced on Friday to 262 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, on June 29, 2024, law enforcement stopped Fultz’s vehicle travelling on Interstate 75 in Erlanger. Shortly thereafter, a K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and found 55.5 grams of actual methamphetamine. Fultz admitted in his plea agreement that he possessed the methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
Under federal law, Fultz 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.
Paul C. McCaffrey, Acting 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 the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Frankfort Attorney Sentenced for Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Frankfort attorney, Brian Logan, 51, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Gregory VanTatenhove to 36 months, for wire fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering.
According to court documents, Logan prepared a will for a client in August 2018. After the client passed away, Logan was appointed executor of the client’s estate, which included real property and cash. The will directed that the majority of the estate’s assets be distributed among certain charities. Instead, Logan transferred $239,600 from the estate bank account to his personal bank accounts in a series of transactions from October 10, 2018, to August 31, 2023. Logan then used these funds for personal expenses, including to make payments on his credit card.
Logan also used fraudulent transactions to transfer the ownership of the estate’s real property to himself. Using his role as executor, he caused the estate to conduct a fictitious transaction selling the property to a friend, then effected a second fictitious transaction causing the friend to sell the property to an entity Logan owned. In each transaction, Logan forged the friend’s name and signature on the deeds. Logan then collected rent on the property for nearly six years, using the funds to make payments on personal credit cards.
In addition, Logan submitted fraudulent documents to a bank in connection with a loan application for the property. He provided the bank with one of the forged deeds and a fraudulent lease that again used his friend’s name and forged signature. Logan used the loan proceeds, totaling $116,000, for his personal benefit.
Under federal law, Logan 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. Additionally, as part of his sentencing, Logan is required to pay $178,381 in restitution.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Robert Holman, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service; and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Johnson County Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Debord, Ky., man, Dustin Newsome, 35, was sentenced on Friday to 35 years in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, in August 2023, the parent of the minor victim called law enforcement and reported that she had located THC vape cartridges in her child’s room. The minor victim stated that he received the cartridges and a cellphone from a mail carrier, later identified as Newsome, in exchange for nude images and sexually explicit videos. Law enforcement discovered nine minor victims that reported having produced sexually explicit images and videos at Newsome’s request.
A search of Newsome’s residence revealed devices that contained numerous sexually explicit images, videos, and recordings of live chats between Newsome and at least four of the minor victims. In addition to the images and videos he produced, there were several hundred images and videos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct that Newsome had obtained from the internet and stored on his electronic devices. These images and videos were obtained over many years beginning in 2013.
Under federal law, Newsome 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. Newsome was also ordered to pay $105,000 in restitution.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by FBI and KSP. 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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Campbell County Man Sentenced for Attempted Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Newport, Ky., man, Raymond Hammond, Jr., 38, was sentenced on Friday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 15 years, for attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, on March 1, 2024, law enforcement intercepted a package containing over 1300 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine that was addressed to a residence in Newport. Agents learned that someone inquired about the package’s status from a particular phone number. On March 5, 2024, agents conducted a controlled delivery of the package to the Newport residence, leaving it on the porch. Once the package was taken inside the residence, agents conducted a search of the residence and found Hammond’s co-defendant, Redrick Mincy, 26, and the package. Mincy admitted that he agreed to receive the package for Hammond. Hammond was later arrested by law enforcement, and admitted that he intended to possess the methamphetamine mixture with the intention of distributing it.
Mincy was previously sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Under federal law, Hammond must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Hammond’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Lesley Allison, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pittsburgh Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by USPIS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Spievack is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Pikeville Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PIKEVILLE, Ky. – A Pikeville, Ky. man, Christopher Springfield, 43, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves to 172 months, for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 28 grams of cocaine.
According to his plea agreement, in April and May of 2024, law enforcement used a confidential informant to make two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Springfield. On May 24, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence Springfield occupied, and located over 400 grams of methamphetamine, over 200 grams of fentanyl, over 100 grams of cocaine, a firearm, and $18,537 in cash. Springfield admitted to possessing these substances and intended to distribute them.
In 2011, Springfield had previously been sentenced to 92 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Under federal law, Springfield 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.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Final Defendant Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy Resulting in Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Harlan, Ky., woman, Leslie Brock, 59, was sentenced on February 19, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, to 250 months in prison, for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl which resulted in the death of another person.
According to evidence presented at trial and court documents, in January 2023 and continuing until October 2023, Brock conspired with her co-defendant, Brendan Miller, to knowingly distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl that ultimately resulted in the death of a victim. Specifically, Brock made frequent trips to a source of supply in Lexington to purchase fentanyl and then distributed the fentanyl to individuals in Harlan County, including Miller. On one occasion, Brock purchased fentanyl in Lexington, returned to Harlan and sold a portion of it to Miller, who then distributed a portion of it to a victim, who died after taking it. Brock was convicted at trial in October 2024. Miller pled guilty to his role in the fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. A third defendant, Aaron Robinson, also pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking.
Under federal law, Brock 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.
In addition to Brock’s punishment, Miller was sentenced to 132 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and Robinson was sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting 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 Cedric Anderson, Auburn Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by DEA, KSP, and the Auburn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Armed Fentanyl Trafficking and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington man, Sam Connor, Jr., 30, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove to 180 months, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to his plea agreement, on April 27, 2023, law enforcement officers received information that Connor was a possible supplier of fentanyl in Fayette County and had arranged a sale of 500 pills containing fentanyl. Upon contacting Connor, law enforcement found a stolen firearm on his person, and Connor admitted to possessing drugs as well. Officers then found a plastic bag on Connor’s person containing pressed fentanyl pills, and located an unloaded firearm and digital scales in his vehicle.
Connor admitted to being in possession of the firearm and knew that he had been convicted of a felony, robbery second degree in Fayette Circuit Court in 2015, and was prohibited from possessing the firearm.
Under federal law, Connor 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.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; AJ Gibes, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
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Lexington Woman Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington, woman, Amy Lynn Cook, 38, was sentenced on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory VanTatenhove, to 276 months, for production of child pornography.
According to her plea agreement, on December 1, 2023, law enforcement received a tip that a Google user, later identified as Cook, had uploaded child sexual abuse material to the platform. Law enforcement also identified additional tips that indicated that Cook had uploaded child pornography images to various other social media platforms, including Facebook. In an interview with law enforcement, Cook admitted that she would sell images, including sexually explicit images of minors, to others on the internet. Search warrants obtained for Cook’s social media accounts and electronic devices led to the discovery of child pornography images, including images of infant that had been produced by Cook. Cook stated that someone requested the image via the internet and that she had been paid to produce and send it.
Under federal law, Cook must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon Cook’s release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by HSI and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth prosecuted 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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West Virginia Man Sentenced for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A West Virginia man, Richard Hudson, 72, was sentenced on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 139 months, for bank robbery by intimidation.
According to his plea agreement, on February 15, 2024, Hudson robbed the Traditional Bank on Tates Creek Road in Lexington. Hudson approached a teller, placed a grocery bag and a note on the counter, and demanded that the teller empty the contents of her drawer into the bag. The teller did so and attempted to hand the bag back to Hudson, who then demanded for her to empty the bottom drawer as well. The teller did so, and Hudson was able to obtain $14,106 during the robbery. He fled the scene and was eventually apprehended in Charleston, WV. Hudson, a career offender, has robbed a series of banks across the Nation since the 1980s.
Under federal law, Hudson must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, Hudson will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Chapman prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Sanchaze Roberts, 28, was sentenced on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 151 months, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a mixture containing fentanyl.
According to his plea agreement, on August 14, 2024, law enforcement, using a confidential source, arranged the purchase of one pound of methamphetamine from Roberts. Roberts agreed to deliver the methamphetamine to the confidential source at a series of locations dictated by Roberts. Roberts traveled to the location, and when law enforcement surrounded his vehicle, he attempted to flee. Law enforcement ultimately apprehended Roberts and located 401.4 grams of methamphetamine and 12.5 grams of fentanyl in his vehicle.
Under federal law, Roberts must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, Roberts will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting 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 James T. Chapman prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Adam Pursifull, 40, was sentenced on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 124 months, for possession of a firearm as a prohibited person.
According to his plea agreement, on April 23, 2024, law enforcement received information leading to the arrest of Adam Pursifull on an outstanding parole warrant. During the arrest and a search, officers located a loaded firearm in Pursifull’s possession. Pursifull had previously been convicted by the Fayette Circuit Court of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree, in May 2014, and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Under federal law, Pursifull must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, Pursifull will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; AJ Gibes, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Jeremy Honaker, Acting U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Commissioner Cookie Crews, Kentucky Department of Corrections, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF, U.S Marshal’s Service, and the Kentucky Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
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Cincinnati Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati, Ohio, man, Gene Primus, 32, was sentenced on Friday, by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 400 months, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and heroin.
According to his plea agreement, law enforcement used a cooperating source to conduct a controlled buy of fentanyl from Fred Hardin, Primus’s co-defendant. Law enforcement began conducting surveillance of Hardin at a Lexington residence and observed Primus leaving the residence carrying a bucket and a bag and placing the items in a vehicle. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and found 2,987 grams of methamphetamine. A search of the residence revealed large amounts of additional methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin, as well as digital scales, blenders with residue, plastic bags, cutting agents, and a loaded handgun.
Hardin, Primus’ co-defendant, was previously sentenced to 312 months in December 2024.
Under federal law, Primus and Hardin must both serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. Upon their release from prison, they will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting 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 James T. Chapman prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Harrison County Doctor Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Distribution of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Harrison County doctor, Michael Gainey, 70, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, before U.S. District Judge Gregory VanTatenhove to the seven counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
According to his plea agreement, Gainey practiced as a family medicine specialist in Harrison County. In that role, Gainey treated and prescribed controlled substances to a number of patients with whom he maintained personal relationships. Gainey knew and intended that the prescriptions he issued to these patients were outside the scope of legitimate medical practice, in part because of the ongoing relationships he maintained with these patients and because Gainey relaxed applicable prescribing standards for these patients. Gainey’s plea agreement lists seven patients that he had ongoing relationships with during the course of his conduct. For each of the patients, he wrote dozens of prescriptions for hydrocodone, oxycodone, gabapentin, and other controlled substances.
Paul C. McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Boone is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Gainey is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each of the seven counts and a fine of $1 million. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
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Hazard Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Hazard, Ky., man, Herbert Allen, was sentenced on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, to 126 months, for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, on May 30, 2023, Allen knowingly possessed with the intent to distribute a kilogram of methamphetamine. Specifically, based on an investigation, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Allen’s residence. Upon their arrival, Allen was in his vehicle. When approached, Allen admitted to police that a backpack containing a large amount of methamphetamine was in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 1,084 grams of methamphetamine, plastic baggies, and a large quantity of cash.
Under federal law, Allen must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Allen’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Hazard Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Hazard, Ky., man, Clifton Plowman, 41, was sentenced on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, to 181 months, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to his plea agreement, following a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Plowman, law enforcement recovered multiple bags from the vehicle, containing 22 grams of methamphetamine and two sets of digital scales. On his person, they found $2,065 in cash and 50 grams of methamphetamine.
Under federal law, Plowman must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Former Middle School Teacher and Basketball Coach Sentenced for Online Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – An Antioch, Tennessee, man, and former South Laurel Middle School teacher and basketball coach, William Goodson, 32, was sentenced on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, to 246 months, for online enticement of a minor.
According to his plea agreement, from August 2023 through February 23, 2024, while he was a teacher at the Middle School, Goodson persuaded a minor to engage in sexual activity. Specifically, Goodson communicated many sexually explicit messages with the victim, through text messages and Snapchat. When questioned, Goodson told police that his relationship with the minor was like that of a boyfriend, and he further admitted to buying the victim gifts and communicating daily, via Snapchat. Ultimately, Goodson convinced the minor victim to engage in sexual contact, on multiple occasions, within his classroom.
Under federal law, Goodson must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Goodson’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Jerry Hollon, London Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and London Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship prosecuted 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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Estill County Man Sentenced for Distributing Oxycodone PillsRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – An Irvine, Ky., man, Chad Newman, 40, was sentenced to 87 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier, for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.
According to his plea agreement, from January 1, 2019, until April 11, 2023, Newman conspired with others to distribute oxycodone pills in Madison, Estill, Laurel, Clay, and Knox Counties. During this time frame, Newman obtained oxycodone 30 mg pills from a source of supply in Louisville, which he would then sell to mid-and lower-level drug traffickers and drug users throughout Southeast Kentucky.
Under federal law, Newman must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Louisville Field Division; Col. Phillip Burnett, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; and Sheriff Chris Flynn, Estill Count Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by DEA, KSP, Madison County Drug Task Force, and Estill County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Dotson prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking and Conspiracy to Launder Drug ProceedsRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON Ky. – A Lexington man, Jamele Mundy, 35, was sentenced on Monday, to 156 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses, and concealment money laundering.
According to his guilty plea agreements and other Court records, Mundy participated in a multi-jurisdictional, international money laundering and drug trafficking organization. In doing so, Mundy received kilogram quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base (“crack” cocaine) for distribution in Lexington. In May 2023, DEA executed a search warrant at a stash house being operated by Mundy. There, they seized 3.132 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.314 kilograms of cocaine base, and $67,315 in cash. The residence also contained plastic blenders with drug residue, a metal kilogram press, heat sealing machines, and a digital scale.
Mundy would process these narcotics for further distribution, using the kilogram press and heat-sealing machine at the residence. He would then collect the money from the sale of these drugs and contact his source of supply, to return the proceeds. Mundy participated in this money laundering of drug proceeds by delivering bulk cash to others, who were responsible for converting it to cryptocurrency and sending those proceeds to members of the drug trafficking organization. In February 2023, Mundy delivered $147,540 in drug proceeds for laundering.
Under federal law, Mundy 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. Mundy was also required to forfeit the $67,315 that was seized from his residence.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Pikeville Man Sentenced to 33 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Pikeville, Ky., man, Samuel C. Atkins, 52, was sentenced on Friday, by U.S. District Chief Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 396 months, for possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, distribution of fluorofentanyl, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on January 3, 2023, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force located Atkins, who was wanted on two outstanding state arrest warrants, at a residence in Richmond. During a search of the residence, law enforcement located sixteen firearms and quantities of methamphetamine and fluorofentanyl in Atkins’s bedroom. Atkins, who had several prior felony convictions, later admitted to obtaining some of these firearms through his drug trafficking. Atkins was taken into custody and lodged at the Madison County Detention Center.
A few days later, detention center employees responded to Atkins’s cell, where four other inmates had suffered non-fatal overdoses. A subsequent search of Atkins’s cell revealed multiple baggies containing approximately two and a half ounces of fentanyl and/or fluorofentanyl. Atkins later admitted to concealing the drugs, bringing them into the detention center after his arrest on January 3, and distributing them to the other inmates.
Under federal law, Atkins must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Atkins’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for eight years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Jeremy Honaker, Acting U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Trafficking in Fentanyl and CarfentanilRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Eugene Laron Fishback, 32, was sentenced on Monday, by U.S. District Chief Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 40 years in prison, for five counts of drug trafficking.
In June 2024, following a four-day trial and approximately 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Fishback guilty of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 10 grams or more of carfentanil. Fishback was also convicted of two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and carfentanil, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to testimony at trial, between July 1, 2022 and December 7, 2023, Fishback conspired with others to distribute fentanyl and carfentanil. On October 11, 2023, Fishback and his girlfriend, Tedi Hawkins, were evicted from their Lexington apartment. During a court ordered eviction, Fayette County Constables and members of the Lexington Police Department found plastic bags in the apartment, which contained over 7,000 fentanyl tablets, and four semi-automatic pistols, ammunition, and large capacity clips. Fishback and Hawkins later relocated to another apartment complex and came under DEA and Lexington Police Department investigation.
A federal search warrant was executed on the new residence, in December 2023. Execution of that warrant resulted in the seizure of more than 1,000 additional fentanyl tablets and a quantity of carfentanil. Fishback was later arrested from his vehicle, which contained another 1,000 fentanyl tablets and more than 10 grams of carfentanil.
After Hawkins had entered a guilty plea, Fishback attempted to convince her to withdraw that guilty plea, during a recorded jail call.
At the time of his indictment on these federal charges, Fishback had four pending state felony indictments in Fayette County. Additionally, Fishback has a number of prior felony convictions.
Under federal law, Fishback must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Fishback’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by DEA, KSP, and Lexington Police Department, with assistance from the Fayette County Constable’s Office Third District. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger West and Brittany Baker are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lexington Man Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining COVID Relief Loans and COVID Relief Rental AssistanceRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Vonnie McDaniels, 35, was sentenced on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 96 months, for wire fraud and other charges related to COVID relief programs.
Specifically, McDaniels was convicted in September 2024 of four counts of wire fraud, for fraudulently applying for three Small Business Administration (SBA) COVID-19 relief loans and for fraudulently applying to the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government’s (LFUCG) federally funded Housing Stabilization Program (HSP), a tenant rent relief program; two counts of aggravated identity theft for submitting tenant rent relief applications, pretending to be his tenants; six counts of money laundering; and two counts of committing an offense while on conditions of release.
According to the evidence at trial, McDaniels submitted a materially false application to the SBA, to obtain an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EDIL), for one business, fraudulently obtaining a $100,000 loan. The Defendant also submitted three materially false Payment Protection Program (PPP) applications, for the same business and for another business that was no longer in operation at the time of the pandemic. Two of the three PPP applications were eventually funded, and McDaniels obtained $93,231. McDaniels also inflated numbers on his applications to increase the loan amount and uploaded fraudulent tax documents to support his numbers. In 2020, he obtained a total of $193,231 in disaster relief funds from the SBA. The theft was discovered by law enforcement when preparing for an earlier trial, in June 2021, when McDaniels was previously convicted of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
McDaniels used the SBA loan proceeds to pay off personal credit cards and loans, free up home equity lines of credit, purchase a new property in South Carolina, and pay his unlawfully obtained mortgage, which had been the subject of his June 2021 bank fraud trial.
In 2021, McDaniels also submitted a materially false application to LFUCG’s HSP for tenant rent relief for two properties. McDaniels uploaded fraudulent leases, vastly inflating the monthly rent amount and pretended to be his two tenants when he submitted the tenant portions of the application. McDaniels solicited personal identifying information from his tenants, told his tenants about the rent relief program, and informed his tenants that they did not qualify. Then, he fraudulently obtained $45,000 in COVID rental relief assistance, while he continued to make his tenants pay their monthly rent. He committed these offenses while subject to conditions of release, following his prior conviction.
Under federal law, McDaniels must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. McDaniels was also ordered to pay $262,017.43 in restitution.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany Dunn-Pirio and Andrea Mattingly Williams are representing the United States in the case.
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Lincoln County Man Convicted of Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Waynesburg, Ky., man Steven Fellmy, was convicted on Thursday, by a federal jury sitting in Lexington, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to the evidence at trial, on August 8, 2023, a Simpsonville Police Department Detective relayed an anonymous tip to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, which concerned the transport of a large quantity of methamphetamine from Anderson County into Mercer County. As a result, Fellmy was traffic stopped in Mercer County, by a Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy. At the scene, a Harrodsburg Police Department K9 positively alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Law enforcement then searched the vehicle, which led to the recovery of 193.5 grams of 95% pure methamphetamine. On his person, Fellmy also had 9.439 grams of methamphetamine and 22.529 grams of heroin.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Chief Scott Elder, Harrodsburg Police Department; Chief Thomas Brummer, Simpsonville Police Department; and Sheriff Ernie Kelty, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.
The investigation was conducted by DEA, Harrodsburg Police Department, Simpsonville Police Department, and Mercer County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Baker is representing the United States in the case.
Fellmy is scheduled to appear for sentencing on April 17, 2025. He faces up to life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment because he has a prior felony conviction for a crime of violence. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing its sentence.
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Kenton County Man Sentenced for Arson and Unlawful Possession of Explosive DevicesRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Covington man, David Juarez, 39, was sentenced on Wednesday to 137 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning for arson and unlawful possession of a destructive device.
According to his plea agreement, between March 6 and 9, 2023, Juarez maliciously set fire to two structures, using an ignitable liquid and Molotov cocktails. Specifically, sometime before February 28, 2023, and then again sometime before March 5, 2023, Juarez burglarized an apartment in Covington. During each burglary, Juarez stole personal items belonging to the resident. On March 6, 2023, Juarez burglarized the apartment again and stole additional personal property; but before leaving, he poured and set fire to an ignitable liquid in two locations within the apartment.
On March 9, 2023, Juarez committed another arson, this time firebombing a restaurant in Covington. Juarez used the bottles of alcohol he had previously stolen in the first burglary to create Molotov cocktails, throwing them into the restaurant. The Covington Fire Department were able to extinguish the fire before the fire spread or caused significant damage.
Under federal law, Juarez must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Brian Valenti, Covington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and Covington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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London Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy Involving COVID Relief LoansRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A London man, Joshua Pennington, 50, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hanley Ingram, to conspiracy to commit money laundering of fraudulently obtained Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Payment Protection Loans. His co-defendant, Nicole Pennington, 48, was indicted in December 2024, on 16 counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering.
According to Joshua Pennington’s plea agreement, his co-defendant made materially false statements on applications for Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. Six of the loan applications were approved for a total of $1,090,398.35 in fraudulently obtained SBA loan proceeds. Between May 2020 and June 10, 2021, Joshua Pennington and his co-defendant knowingly laundered over $1,000,000 in criminally derived funds, via transactions over $10,000. They used the money to renovate their kitchen, pay for plastic surgery, purchase a Viking River Cruise trip, withdraw cash, purchase vehicles, and pay off loans and mortgages.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Kelly K. Moening, Special Agent in Charge, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Great Lakes Field Division; and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Cincinnati Field Division, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the IRS-CI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Dunn-Pirio is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Joshua Pennington is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2025. He faces up to ten years in prison, plus any restitution or fines ordered by the Court. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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International Crypto Vendor Sentenced for Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – An Indian national, Anurag Pramod Murarka, 30, an international virtual currency vendor operating under two monikers (“elonmuskwhm” and “la2nyc”), was sentenced late Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to 121 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents recently unsealed, since at least April 2021 and continuing until September 29, 2023, Murarka operated an international money laundering business. Murarka advertised his services online, often on dark net marketplaces, as a money laundering service. Customers would then contact him through encrypted messages, in response to those advertisements, and negotiate an exchange rate. Once the exchange rate had been set, Murarka, located in India, directed his customers to send cryptocurrency to certain cryptocurrency addresses. Murarka then worked through a complex, pre-arranged hawala operation emanating out of India to arrange for cash to be delivered to his employees in the United States. Murarka’s network of employees throughout the United States and overseas would collect cash from Murarka’s hawala connections and then package the cash in a variety of ways, including between the pages of books and sealed in multiple envelopes, before mailing the cash to the customer.
Murarka collected a fee for his services and used part of the fee to pay off his employees and co-conspirators. Murarka was aware that many of his customers engaged in criminal activity – specifically computer hacking and drug trafficking – and therefore knew that his business facilitated that criminal activity, by assisting in disguising the source of the unlawful activity. In total, Murarka and his co-conspirators laundered more than $20 million in criminal proceeds.
A joint operation between the FBI and USPIS resulted in Murarka’s arrest. Thereafter, the FBI assumed his online identity, taking control of the money laundering operation and conducting undercover activity. This operation resulted in law enforcement actions against several of Murarka’s customers, including the prevention of multiple financial account takeovers (in excess of $1.4 million), the seizure of counterfeit and illegal drugs and drug manufacturing equipment, and related prosecutions. Additionally, the FBI seized millions of dollars’ worth of criminal proceeds.
Under federal law, Murarka must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Murarka’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
“Using the internet, the defendant provided his assistance to countless other criminals as they tried to conceal their stolen money and illegal drug proceeds,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This case highlights the global scope of cybercrime, as well as the demand for diligence and collaboration in fighting money laundering – a devastating second layer of criminal conduct. The dedicated work of our law enforcement partners has now held him accountable; and we remain committed in our collaborative efforts to combat this destructive criminal activity.”
“Gone are the days when cyber criminals, who enable and profit from the horrendous criminal conduct of others, can sit safely in their dens, across oceans, convinced of the limited reach of justice. The success of this operation proves that the FBI can unmask even the most careful anonymous online actors,” said Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office. “Moreover, the FBI will leverage every advantage against criminal networks that cause damage to our communities, to apprehend these malicious actors, seize the proceeds of their crimes, and expose their network of co-conspirators.”
“The successful conclusion of this case involving the sentencing of Anurag Murarka, a cryptocurrency exchanger, shines a light on the United States Postal Inspection Service’s relentless pursuit of criminals who think they can use the anonymity of the dark web to perpetrate crimes and make the US Postal Service an unwitting partner in transferring ill-begotten funds,” said Lesley Allison, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge – Pittsburgh Division.
United States Attorney Shier; FBI Special Agent in Charge Stansbury; and USPIS Postal Inspector in Charge Allison, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by FBI and USPIS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Dieruf prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Detroit Man Sentenced for Armed Fentanyl and Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Detroit man, Khari Smith, 21, was sentenced on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 200 months in prison, for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
In May 2023, law enforcement began investigating an individual distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine in Lexington, and also identified the vehicle being used to transport the drugs into the area. On July 10, 2023, law enforcement located the vehicle traveling from Detroit to Kentucky, as one of a pair of vehicles they believed were connected. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on both vehicles. Khari Smith and Khmari Smith, his brother and co-defendant, were found in one vehicle, with no evidence of drugs. In the other vehicle, co-defendant Brianna Hanspard, 29, also from Detroit, was found with 4.6 kilograms of methamphetamine and 199.7 grams of fentanyl. Hanspard admitted agreeing with Khmari Smith and others to transport drugs from Detroit to Lexington, in exchange for payment.
Further investigation established that Khari and Khmari Smith continued their drug distribution, using sources in Detroit. In August 2023, law enforcement searched their leased residences in Lexington. At the first residence they found 354.4 grams of fentanyl, 216.3 grams of methamphetamine, and 18 firearms; at the second residence, they found additional fentanyl, methamphetamine, and 12 firearms. Khmari Smith admitted that he received those firearms as payment for drugs he distributed.
In their previous sentencings, Khmari Smith was sentenced to 384 months and Hanspard was sentenced to 84 months.
Under federal law, Khari Smith must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentences.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Financially Benefiting from Forced LaborRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Mexican National illegally residing in Lexington, Serafin Bayona, 35, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, before U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to two counts of financially benefiting from forced labor.
According to his guilty plea agreement, Bayona participated in a venture to financially benefit through the forced labor of others. Specifically, Bayona would loan money to the victims, all Mexican nationals then living in Mexico, to be smuggled into the United States. He would then coordinate the smuggling of these victims and arrange transportation to Lexington, where they would be housed in one of several properties he maintained. The victims would repay Bayona, after they obtained work in the United States, with interest that was added to their debt. Bayona also would charge the victims other fees, including fees for rent, transportation, cleaning, food, clothing, and obtaining employment and false identification documents. Ultimately, the amounts owed by the victims resulted in an endless cycle of debt. When the victims protested paying the continued fees, Bayona used threats of force on victims and the victims’ families, including instances of brandishing a firearm, to compel the victims to continue to work in order to pay him. During the execution of a search warrants at properties Bayona maintained, over $50,000 in cash was discovered, which he admitted was generated through his participation in this forced labor venture.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, HSI, and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Bayona is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2025.
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Greenup County Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – A Greenup County man, Richard Burton, 50, was sentenced on Monday, to 174 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of child pornography.
According to his guilty plea, on January 10, 2024, law enforcement received a tip regarding child pornography on the social media platform Kik and discovered Burton was the owner of the flagged account. After reviewing the account, law enforcement found at least eight pictures or videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Burton’s person and his electronic devices. On the devices, they located additional evidence, which corroborated the evidence found in the Kik records, along with messages revealing that Burton sent and received child pornography. Burton admitted to knowingly distributing and possessing the child pornography.
Under federal law, Burton must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 25 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Kenton County Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Kenton County man, Frank Long, 53, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to illegal possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to his plea agreement, on November 1, 2024, law enforcement responded to a call for service, after someone identified a man urinating in public. Upon arriving at the scene, officers identified Long and his vehicle and approached him, detecting a strong odor of alcohol and finding a handgun in between the center console and the front passenger seat. Long was arrested for alcohol intoxication and a further search of his vehicle found five loaded firearms.
An investigation then revealed that Long has an active Domestic Violence Order, from Scott County, Kentucky, that was issued on April 20, 2022 and effective for three years.
“The defendant was in possession of several loaded firearms, despite the fact he was subject to a domestic violence protective order, a dangerous and potentially deadly combination,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “The critical teamwork of several law enforcement partners will now hold him accountable for his violation of federal law, and will inspire our combined efforts to make our communities safer.”
“Outcomes like this clearly show the continued importance of collaboration in protecting Kentucky families,” said Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General. “I’m proud of our colleagues from the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) who worked with federal and local law enforcement to apprehend this dangerous suspect before he could further harm our Commonwealth.”
United States Attorney Shier; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Attorney General Coleman; and Chief Kyle Rader, Erlanger Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, and Erlanger Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Leonhard is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Long is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25, 2025. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Collection and Enforcement Efforts Exceed $40 Million in Fiscal Year 2024Read the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV announced today that, in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky collected more than $20 million for crime victims and taxpayers, and also obtained civil settlements totaling more than $20 million through its affirmative civil enforcement efforts.
“Our enforcement of the law includes pursuing restitution for victims of crime, recovering illegally obtained funds, and protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud, waste, and abuse,” said United States Attorney Shier. “These collection and enforcement results demonstrate our commitment to these critical goals. I want to commend the dedicated personnel in our Office, for their persistent efforts on behalf of victims and for safeguarding our taxpayer funds.”
In fiscal year 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office collected $14,299,361.43 through its Financial Litigation Program. This Program is responsible for collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States, and criminal restitution debts owed to federal crime victims who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While criminal restitution is paid to victims, criminal fines and assessments are paid to the Department of Justice’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, due to successful asset forfeitures in fiscal year 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office secured $4,161,490 for federal law enforcement efforts, shared $1,508,364 with state and local law enforcement agencies, and restored $472,830 to crime victims. In asset forfeiture actions, the United States seizes money and property that were proceeds of crime or used in furtherance of a crime. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund are used for a variety of law enforcement purposes. Funds shared with state and local agencies reflect the degree of their participation in law enforcement efforts resulting in forfeiture. When money or property is forfeited by a defendant who also owes restitution, the Office can ask that the value of the forfeited property be paid to the victim to make him or her whole.
The Office’s Civil Division also protects the interests of the United States in cases involving property on which the government holds a lien. In fiscal year 2024, the Office collected $1,382,137.49 on behalf of taxpayers in such cases.
Finally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement program obtained civil settlements and judgments valued at $20,078,263.98. Over $19.7 million of this amount were obtained through enforcement of the False Claims Act, which is a federal law that imposes treble damages and penalties on those who knowingly and falsely claim money from the United States. The False Claims Act thus serves to safeguard government programs that provide health insurance, support American businesses and workers, offer disaster and other emergency relief, and provide many other critical services and benefits. More than $300,000 of the settlements represent civil penalties paid by healthcare providers who violated the Controlled Substances Act, a federal law that aims to protect the public’s health and safety from dangers posed by highly addictive or dangerous controlled substances that are diverted into the illicit market. The remainder of these settlements result from penalties and compensatory damages paid for violations of the American with Disabilities Act, a federal law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination in many areas of public life.
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Former Nurse Pleads Guilty to Tampering with MedicationRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., woman, Abigail Hall, 51, pleaded guilty on Monday, before U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to tampering with a consumer product.
According to her plea agreement, between January 2023 and August 2023, Hall worked as a contract registered nurse at several facilities in Kentucky, including a health care facility in Lawrenceburg, Ky., that focused on care for the elderly and infirm. Then, on August 27, 2023, Hall took morphine that had been prescribed for three patients that she was treating at the healthcare facility, all of whom had significant disease and pain concerns. Hall replaced the stolen morphine with water and blue food coloring, to resemble the real medication. Ultimately, Hall took at least seven syringes of stolen morphine and administered the tampered morphine to one of the patients.
“Instead of actually caring for the patients in her charge – patients who needed their pain medication – she stole their medicine and even administered fake medicine to one of them,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Her conduct was as disgraceful as it was deceptive and callous. Fortunately, through the hard work of our law enforcement partners, she will now face the consequences of her profound betrayal.”
“Patients suffering from pain trust their health care providers to provide relief through effective and appropriately dosed medications,” said Special Agent in Charge George A. Scavdis, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice healthcare professionals who violate their position of trust and jeopardize patients’ health and well-being by tampering with their pain medications.”
United States Attorney Shier and Special Agent in Charge Scavdis, jointly announced the guilty plea.
The investigation was conducted by FDA-OCI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Hall is scheduled to be sentenced on March 24, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. She faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and may be ordered to pay restitution and fines. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
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Jessamine County Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Nicholasville, Ky., man, Billy Wilkins, 44, was sentenced on Wednesday, to 360 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, following his convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by convicted felon.
According to evidence presented at his trial, on November 4, 2021, in Nicholasville, law enforcement with the DEA and Jessamine County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant on a residence occupied by Wilkins. Inside the residence, officers located large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as two firearms and multiple rounds of ammunition. A third firearm was later recovered under the residence’s crawl space. During the investigation, officers also confirmed that Wilkins was a convicted felon, with multiple prior Kentucky drug trafficking convictions.
Under federal law, Wilkins must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Kevin Grimes, Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer Sentenced for Three Counts of Sexual Abuse of a WardRead the Press Release
A Kentucky man was sentenced today to 100 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release and restitution of $21,000 to each of the three victims for three counts of sexual abuse of a ward.
According to his plea agreement, from Sept. 5, 2020, to Dec. 21, 2020, Jacob Salcido, 40, of Lexington, while employed as a correctional officer at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, knowingly engaged in sexual acts with three inmates. Salcido admitted that, based on his training and experience, he was aware that any sexual contact between FMC staff and inmates was strictly forbidden and constituted a criminal offense.
“Jacob Salcido exploited his power as a correctional officer by sexually abusing three women in his custody,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “This conviction and significant sentence reflect the Justice Department’s commitment to eradicating sexual abuse in federal prisons, bringing to justice those who violate the public trust by abusing those in their custody.”
“Salcido’s duty as a Correctional Officer was to foster a safe and humane environment for inmates,”said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz. “Instead, Salcido sexually abused three inmates in his custody and care. Salcido’s lengthy prison sentence sends a clear message that federal Correctional Officers who abuse inmates will be brought to justice.”
“Instead of securing and caring for those in his custody, the defendant preyed on vulnerable individuals and betrayed an important public charge,” said U.S Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This despicable conduct has done enduring damage to his victims. And beyond that, when public officials act with such disregard for those in their care, it erodes faith in all law enforcement. We will continue our efforts to protect these individuals, and to combat abuses by those violating the public trust.”
The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General and FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted the case.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is committed to rooting out misconduct within its ranks and working with law enforcement partners to prosecute violations of federal law. The numerous FBOP employees working diligently to ensure justice for the victims of misconduct are critical to the department’s reform efforts.
Former Kentucky Police Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A former Manchester Police Department officer, Shawn Curry, 36, was sentenced on Wednesday, to 18 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for deprivation of rights under color of law.
According to his plea agreement, on September 3, 2021, Curry was on duty and acting as a police officer with the Manchester Police Department. He and other officers were made aware of a 911 call from a pool hall outside the Manchester city limits, indicating that someone was fighting the owner of the pool hall and would not leave. Curry and two other officers arrived at the pool hall and encountered the owner, who was holding a pool stick, and the victim, who was fighting with the owner. The owner ran away from Curry, who then tased him in the back and used force on him.
After his use of force on the owner, Curry went into an adjoining room, where other officers were attempting to arrest the victim. Instead of attempting to place handcuffs on the victim, Curry grabbed the victim’s hair and delivered five blows to his head and face. Curry admitted to knowing from his training and experience that this use of force was unreasonable and unlawful, but he used the unlawful force anyway.
When interviewed later, Curry knowingly lied to law enforcement, falsely telling them that he hit the victim in the shoulder and claiming he only made incidental contact with the victim’s face once, by accident. Curry also omitted any mention of his use of force on the owner of the pool hall or the victim in his incident report and use of force memorandum, even though he knew he was required to report them.
Under federal law, Curry must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for two years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo and Trial Attorney Tara Allison from the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Shelby County Man Sentenced for Theft of Government BenefitsRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Shelbyville man, Jeremy Wayne Harrell, 43, was sentenced on Monday to 6 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, for theft of government benefits.
According to evidence at his trial, Harrell intentionally stole money from the United States, namely U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Individual Unemployability (IU) disability payments that he was not entitled to receive.
Specifically, the evidence presented at trial indicated that Harrell was initially awarded IU benefits in 2011. In 2019, Harrell then founded Veterans Club, Inc., and he served as the Founder and CEO of the organization. The evidence showed that Harrell had a high level of work activity for Veterans Club, from 2019 through 2023. This included working 40-60 hours per week, actively running the organization, organizing events, managing over $400,000 in assets and approximately 6,000 volunteers, engaging in news media interviews, appearing on podcasts, appearing and speaking at community events, meeting with business and political leaders, teaching classes, accepting donations, among other work. This evidence confirmed that Harrell, as the active and successful Founder and CEO of Veterans Club, could maintain substantial gainful employment, rendering him ineligible to receive the IU benefits that he received from 2019 through 2023. Additionally, the evidence showed that Harrell made numerous false statements to the government about his daily life and work activities, depicting himself as withdrawn, without the ability to perform work, leading a highly restricted life, and rarely leaving his home; when in truth, he was an active and successful CEO of a vibrant organization. The evidence confirmed Harrell made these false representations to the government to depict himself as unemployable, conceal his active role as CEO of an organization, and attempt to continue to receive IU benefits. In total, Harrell wrongfully received more than $128,000 in IU benefits.
Upon his release from prison, Harrell will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for one year, six months of which will be spent on home detention.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Chapman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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