Western District of Kentucky

Louisville, KY – Two Louisville gang members were charged with federal firearms offenses.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

Virgil Jackson, age 20, of Louisville, Kentucky, is charged with possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. Jackson was charged by federal complaint, is in state custody, and will be brought to federal custody at a later date. Jackson is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On May 19, 2023, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Jackson was convicted of receiving stolen property – vehicle – over $300 and unlawful transaction with a minor in the second degree in case number 22-CR-001243. On May 19, 2023, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Jackson was convicted of complicity to engaging in organized crime – criminal syndicate, complicity to receiving stolen property $10,000 or more, and complicity to criminal mischief in the first degree in case number 21-CR-001433-005. On May 5, 2023, in Oldham County Circuit Court, Jackson was placed on diversion for complicity to receiving stolen property $1,000 < $10,000, fleeing or evading police in the first degree (on foot), two counts of complicity to wanton endangerment in the first degree, and unlawful transaction with minor in the second degree in case number 21-CR-00124.

Dacorey Hodges, age 19, also of Louisville, formerly of California, is charged with possessing a firearm while being a fugitive from justice. Hodges is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he has an active felony arrest warrant for burglary in Orange County, California, that was issued on August 1, 2023, in case number 19DL0480. 

Hodges was charged by a federal complaint and was arrested this week. He made his initial appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. A detention hearing is currently scheduled for September 18, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.

According to the complaint, Jackson is a member of the Jack Gang and Hodges is a member of Cali to Victory, a subset of the Victory Park Crips gang. Both gangs have been identified by law enforcement as violent street gangs operating in Louisville, Kentucky. The complaint alleges that on September 4, 2023, at approximately 2:23 a.m., a drive-by shooting occurred at the Waffle House located at 2805 Fern Valley Road in Louisville, Kentucky. A female victim received a gunshot wound to the foot during the shooting. Investigators were able to review video recordings from the Waffle House surveillance cameras and identified Jackson and Hodges as two of the individuals who fired weapons. On September 12, 2023, ATF agents, with the assistance of LMPD, executed federal search warrants at Hodges’ and Jackson’s residences. At Jackson’s residence, law enforcement recovered one firearm with an extended magazine. At Hodges’ residence, law enforcement recovered three firearms along with assorted types of ammunition.

If convicted, both defendants face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.   

This case is being investigated by the ATF and LMPD. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Dahl and Alicia Gomez are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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

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Louisville, KY – A suspended Kentucky attorney and his wife were sentenced in federal court today for wire fraud and willful failure to pay tax. The former attorney was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months imprisonment and his wife was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months imprisonment.

United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service Louisville Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the Cincinnati Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, made the announcement.

According to court documents, Andrew Nicholas Clooney, 55, was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release. Christel Marie Clooney, 51, was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Andrew Clooney and Christel Clooney were also ordered to pay $663,965.16 in restitution to former clients. 

Andrew Clooney practiced as a personal injury attorney through the Clooney Law Office. Christel Clooney served as the office manager for the Clooney Law Office. From August 2016 through October 2018, the Clooneys used funds that belonged to clients of the Clooney Law Office on personal expenses. Further, the Clooneys made approximately $426,098 in income in 2016, on which they owed approximately $107,140 in federal income taxes. The Clooneys neither filed a tax return for tax year 2016 nor paid any of their outstanding tax liability for that year. 

The United States Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda E. Gregory prosecuted the case.

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Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment on September 6, 2023, charging a Shelbyville woman with seven counts of wire fraud.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service Louisville Field Office made the announcement.

According to the indictment, between December 2019 and September 2021, Amy Hall, 37, as the Accounting Controller for a local design and construction company, stole more than $260,000 from her employer. She used access to the company’s credit card and bank account granted to her by virtue of her position as accountant to devise and execute a scheme to steal the company’s funds for her own use and benefit and for the use and benefit of others.  

Hall made her initial court appearance on September 8, 2023, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Hall faces a maximum sentence of 140 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Secret Service is investigating the case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Elver is prosecuting the case.

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

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Louisville, KY – Four defendants were sentenced this week for conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Two of the defendants were also sentenced for mail fraud, and one defendant was sentenced for money laundering.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Jones of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Cincinnati Field Office, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, and Director Juan Garrett of the Kentucky Department of Insurance made the announcement.

According to court documents, Joel Abad, 40, of Miami, Florida, Junis Peguero, 40, of Riverview, Florida, Carlos Vazquez, 57, of Louisville, Kentucky, Jose Cordoba Reira, 47, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Miguel Moreno-Cardenas, 55, of Louisville, Kentucky, conspired to recruit people to participate in fake automobile accidents and to obtain treatment at certain chiropractic clinics in Louisville, Kentucky, where insurance companies were billed for the treatment.

On September 7, 2023, Peguero was sentenced to 2 years and 7 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and mail fraud.

On September 7, 2023, Vazquez was sentenced to 5-years’ probation for conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

On September 8, 2023, Reira was sentenced to 1 year and 2 months in prison, followed by a 2-year term of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering.

On September 8, 2023, Moreno-Cardenas was sentenced to 1 year and 2 months in prison, followed by a 2-year term of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and mail fraud.

All defendants were ordered to pay $343,832.41, jointly, and severally, in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.   

Joel Abad will be sentenced later.

The case was investigated by the FBI, IRS-CI, USPIS, and the Kentucky Department of Insurance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Ansari and Christopher Tieke prosecuted the case with assistance from health care fraud investigator Bob Masterson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on July 11, 2023, charging two Nelson County residents with conspiring to traffic in cocaine and fentanyl. One resident was also charged with possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing cocaine and fentanyl. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Jones of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Sheriff Ramon Pineiroa of the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Neal Scott Stone, 47, and Keely Logsdon, 39, both of Bardstown, Kentucky, were charged with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and distributing over 400 grams of fentanyl and 500 grams of cocaine between March 7, 2023, and June 24, 2023.  Additionally, Stone was charged with possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing over 500 grams of cocaine and over 40 grams of fentanyl on June 24, 2023. 

Both Stone and Logsdon recently made their initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Both Stone and Logsdon remain in federal custody pending trial. If convicted, both defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.   

This case is being investigated by the FBI, the DEA, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force, with assistance from the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Kentucky State Police, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl is prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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

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Louisville, KY – A Jefferson County, Kentucky man was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for burglarizing a federally licensed firearms dealer and illegally possessing a stolen firearm in Louisville, Kentucky.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents, on November 25, 2021, Martavious Kincaide, 29, a convicted felon, stole firearms from a licensed firearms dealer’s business inventory. On December 6, 2021, Kincaide was in possession a Springfield Armory XD-M, 9-millimeter handgun, which was one of the firearms stolen from the licensed dealer. Kincaide later admitted to stealing the guns. In addition to the 10-year prison sentence, Kincaide was ordered to pay $13,600 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.

“This case is yet another example of what occurs when our federal and local law enforcement partners have longstanding solid working relationships,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “ATF and LMPD have demonstrated over time that working together is force multiplier resulting in a safer Louisville for all who live, work, and visit here. I commend both agencies for their continued focus on fighting violent crime and removing crime guns from our streets.”   

“To reduce violent crime, ATF targets the sources of crime guns,” said Special Agent in Charge Morrow. “Many crime guns come from theft from vehicles, residences, and sometimes gun stores. In Kentucky, ATF investigates every theft from federal firearm licensees, and we work hard to recover stolen guns before they can be used to harm our community. I am proud of the work of the ATF Louisville Office and Louisville Metro Police Department. They should be commended for their prompt response and excellent result on this investigation.”

The case was investigated by the ATF Louisville Field Office and the Louisville Metro Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Spencer McKiness, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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Louisville, KY – On August 16, 2023, a federal grand jury in Louisville charged 34 Louisville and Southern Indiana residents in four indictments involving methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms offenses.    

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Jones of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to the first indictment, Thomas Gunter, 39, Desmond Allen, 37, Byron Mayes, 49, David Carter, 41, and Lauren Baum, 31, all of Louisville, and Brandon Traughber, 41, of Georgetown, Indiana, and Jason Hill, 40, of Corydon, Indiana, are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Beginning as early as January 1, 2021, and continuing through August 16, 2023, the defendants conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Gunter is also charged with ten counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Allen, Mayes, Baum, and Hill are also each charged with one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.  Carter is also charged with four counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Traughber is also charged with two counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

According to the second indictment, Adrian Hamilton, 51, Antonio O’Neal, 47, Randall Dilley, 49, Keith Dewayne Settles, 51, Coy Tucker, 32, Jaiquinton Wordlaw, 40, Heather Boling, 25, Dontray Bard, 38, Todd Allgood, 54, and Imani Tennyson, 21, all of Louisville, are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Beginning as early as January 1, 2021, and continuing through August 16, 2023, the defendants conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture.

Hamilton and Tennyson are also each charged with two counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. O’Neal is also charged with five counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Dilley is also charged with four counts of distributing a fentanyl mixture and three counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Settles is also charged with three counts of distributing a fentanyl mixture. Tucker is also charged with six counts of distributing a fentanyl mixture and one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Wordlaw is also charged with one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Boling is also charged with four counts of distributing a fentanyl mixture, two counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Bard is also charged with one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.  Allgood is also charged with six counts of distributing a fentanyl mixture.

According to the third indictment, Dennis Rice, 44, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Tomerriel Macklin Jr., 23, Damon Fortney, 44, Dominique Kinnard, 33, Curnesha Smith, 30, Derrik Goodman, 26, Bruce Boerner, 56, and Dawn Burns, 55, all of Louisville, are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Beginning as early as March 28, 2023, and continuing through August 16, 2023, the defendants conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Rice, Macklin Jr., and Goodman are also each charged with three counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Fortney is also charged with six counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Kinnard is also charged with one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Smith is also charged with seven counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Boerner is also charged with four counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Burns is also charged with five counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to the fourth indictment, Kendall Shaw, 41, Jaron Collier, 45, Ryan Mitchem, 41, Saentay Sheard, 46, Stephen Piercy, 46, Sean Underwood, 51, Christopher Shanahan, 33, Jason Cheser, 48, and Lacy Elliot, 35, all of Louisville, are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Beginning as early as January 1, 2021, and continuing through August 16, 2023, the defendants conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. 

Shaw is also charged with three counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Collier is also charged with two counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Mitchem and Sheard are also each charged with one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Piercy is also charged with four counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and three counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Underwood and Elliot are also each charged with one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Shanahan is also charged with three counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Cheser is also charged with three counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Twenty-six of the 34 defendants have been arrested and will make their initial court appearances today and tomorrow before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The following eight defendants have not yet been arrested: Bard, Mayes, Shaw, Wordlaw, Kinnard, Boerner, Shanahan, and Hill. If convicted, the defendants each face minimum sentences ranging from 10 to 35 years, and all each face a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.   

The cases are being investigated by the FBI, HSI, the IRS-CI, and the Louisville Metro Police Department, with assistance from the Kentucky State Police, the Shepherdsville Police Department, the Jeffersonville, Indiana Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Josh Porter and Frank Dahl are prosecuting the cases.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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

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Louisville, KY – An Elizabethtown, Kentucky woman was sentenced today to 2 years and 9 months in federal prison for charges related to her submission of three fraudulent Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act applications.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Vince Zehme of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Jones of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement. 

According to court documents, Kelly Woods, 43, filed three fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans between May 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021, resulting in the theft of $1,318,955. Woods utilized the entities Philips Healthcare LLC and LB Acquisitions LLC. Woods organized LB Acquisitions LLC after the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic. She then exaggerated the number of employees and payroll expenses of those entities in the fraudulent applications. Following release from her 2-year and 9-month sentence, Woods was ordered to serve 3 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Woods was also ordered to pay $1,318,988 in restitution and a $15,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the FDIC Office of Inspector General and the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Elver and David Weiser prosecuted the case.

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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A real estate investor was resentenced yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky to 18 months in prison after his probation was revoked for retaliating against witnesses. He is also required to pay a criminal fine of $171,000 and restitution of $79,000.

Mackie E. Shelton of Scottsville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to bid rigging a farmland auction on Nov. 29, 2022, in violation of the Sherman Act. According to court documents, Shelton and a co-defendant were real-estate investors who demanded and accepted payoffs to rig the outcome of an April 21, 2018, auction for hundreds of acres of farmland and timber in Allen County, Kentucky. The crime resulted in a financial loss to the Kentucky family selling the property. As a result of his conviction, Shelton lost his professional auctioneer and real-estate licenses, and initially received a sentence of three years of probation with 26 consecutive weekends in jail. While on probation, he retaliated against witnesses who cooperated with law enforcement in the case, resulting in the resentencing. His 18-month prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. He was required to report for prison in two days. 

“As part of our commitment to investigating and prosecuting antitrust crimes throughout America’s heartland, we will never hesitate to protect witnesses who cooperate with law enforcement,” said Acting Director of Criminal Enforcement Emma Burnham of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This sentence is a warning that intimidating or retaliating against witnesses will not be tolerated.”

“Retaliating against a witness strikes at the very heart of our country’s judicial system,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The FBI will aggressively investigate allegations of witness retaliation as our system of justice demands that actions such as these not be tolerated.”

The FBI’s International Corruption Unit investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Jariel A. Rendell and Alison M. Friberg of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal I Section prosecuted the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.

Anyone with information about bid rigging and other antitrust crimes targeting America’s farmers and rural communities should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.

Paducah, KY – On August 8, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Murray, Kentucky man with possessing a Molotov cocktail, a destructive device.

United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement. 

According to the indictment, on September 10, 2022, in Calloway County, Kentucky, Jack Thomas Epperson, 20, possessed a Molotov cocktail, a destructive device that was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. 

Epperson made his initial court appearance on August 21, 2023, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Epperson faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

The ATF Paducah Satellite Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the Kentucky State Police, Murray Police Department, and Murray State University Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the case.

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Owensboro, KY – An Indiana man was sentenced yesterday to 6 years and 8 months in prison for traveling to Kentucky to engage in sexual conduct with a minor.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service Kentucky Field Division, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Chief Art Ealum of the Owensboro Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents, Bradley Linderman, 36, was sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in prison, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release, for traveling across state lines with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, attempted enticement of a minor, and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. There is no parole in the federal system.

Linderman used the internet to communicate with an undercover agent he believed to be a 15-year-old girl for the purposes of engaging in sexual conduct. Linderman then traveled from Indiana to Kentucky to meet the undercover agent to engage in sexual conduct.      

This case was the result of a joint federal, state, and local operation called Operation Angel, aimed at making federal arrests of individuals who preyed upon children in the Owensboro area. The United States Secret Service, the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, the Kentucky State Police, and the Owensboro Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Spencer McKiness prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

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Owensboro, KY – A former Evansville, Indiana high school teacher was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison for traveling to Kentucky to engage in sexual conduct with a minor.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service Kentucky Field Division, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Chief Art Ealum of the Owensboro Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents, Cody Sean McCormick, 28, was sentenced to 10 years, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for traveling across state lines with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, attempted enticement of a minor, and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. There is no parole in the federal system.

McCormick used the internet to communicate with an undercover agent he believed to be a 14-year-old girl for the purposes of engaging in sexual contact. McCormick traveled from Evansville, Indiana to Owensboro, Kentucky to meet the undercover agent engage in sexual conduct.     

This case was the result of a joint federal, state, and local operation called Operation Angel, aimed at making federal arrests of individuals who preyed upon children in the Owensboro area. The United States Secret Service, the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, the Kentucky State Police, and the Owensboro Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Spencer McKiness prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

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Louisville, KY – Two Radcliff men were sentenced this week for interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Chief Jeremy Thompson of the Elizabethtown Police Department, and Chief Jeffrey A. Cross of the Radcliff Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents, Damian Beamus, 27, was sentenced to 16 years and 4 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for five counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Beamus participated in armed robberies of five local businesses over a 30-day period. In each instance, Beamus or an accomplice was armed with a firearm and ordered employees to surrender business cash. On February 2, 2021, 007 Liquors in Radcliff was robbed of business cash. On February 28, 2021, Hibbett Sports in Radcliff was robbed of business cash. On February 21, 2021, the Applebee’s Bar and Grill in Radcliff was robbed of business cash. On February 25, 2021, the Stop N Shop in Elizabethtown was robbed of business cash. On March 2, 2021, Brooks Express in Radcliff was robbed of business cash.

Joshua Dimon Jones, 30, was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for interference with commerce by robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Jones participated in the February 25, 2021, armed robbery of Stop N Shop in Elizabethtown. Jones, a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing a firearm, was later found to be in possession of one of the firearms used in the robberies.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“This case is indicative of the collaboration and cooperation that exists among our federal, state, and local enforcement agencies in the Western District,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. I commend our federal partners, the Elizabethtown Police Department, and the Radcliff Police Department for their outstanding work which was critical to the successful prosecution of this case.”

“These two defendants threatened the safety of innocent people during this string of armed robberies,” said Special Agent in Charge Morrow. “I am proud of the investigative work of ATF and our law enforcement partners, and the diligent work of the United States Attorney’s Office. These offenders will no longer terrorize our local businesses or prey on the innocent in our communities. These sentences send a clear message that if you use a firearm to commit a violent crime, Kentucky law enforcement will ensure you receive justice.”

“This case is an excellent example of collaboration at the local and federal level,” stated Chief Thompson. “When law enforcement agencies across our Commonwealth partner, we become a force multiplier in protecting our citizens. When agencies don’t care who gets the credit for great police work, the citizens of Kentucky win and criminals lose. We thank our local partners at the Radcliff Police Department, and our federal partners with the ATF, FBI, and United States Attorney’s Office.”

The case was investigated by the ATF, the FBI, the Elizabethtown Police Department, and the Radcliff Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin McKenzie prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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Bowling Green, KY – A Tompkinsville, Kentucky man was sentenced yesterday to 11 years and 1 month in prison for methamphetamine trafficking.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Director Ron Lafferty of the Barren River Drug Task Force made the announcement.

According to court documents, on June 10, 2022, and July 7, 2022, in Monroe County, Kentucky, Chad Emberton¸ 45, distributed five grams or more of methamphetamine to another person. Following release from his 11-year and 1-month prison sentence, Emberton was ordered to serve 4 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the DEA Bowling Green Post of Duty Office and the Barren River Drug Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

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Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky returned an indictment on August 9, 2023, charging a Tompkinsville, Kentucky man with methamphetamine trafficking.    

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Director Ron Lafferty of the Barren River Drug Task Force made the announcement.

According to the indictment, on June 6, 2023, Corey Shirley, 29, possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in Monroe County, Kentucky. Shirley also distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on December 21, 2021, in Monroe, County, Kentucky.

Yesterday, Shirley made an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by the DEA Bowling Green Post of Duty Office and the Barren River Drug Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, is prosecuting this case.

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

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Louisville, KY – Yesterday, two local men have plead guilty to a string of armed carjackings that occurred in Jefferson County, Kentucky from late May to early June of 2022.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents, Fahad Alasawi, 18, of Louisville, pled guilty to four counts of carjacking and four counts of possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Mauricio Diaz, 19, also of Louisville, pled guilty to three counts of carjacking, one count of attempted carjacking, and three counts of possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. According to court documents, from May 27, 2022, through June 2, 2022, Alasawi and Diaz stole or attempted to steal five vehicles from different victims with threats of violence and while possessing a firearm.

Alasawi is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20, 2023, and Diaz is scheduled to be sentenced on November 29, 2023. They each face a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

The FBI Louisville Field Office, HSI Louisville, and the Louisville Metro Police Department, are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter is prosecuting the case.

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Bowling Green, KY – A Bowling Green man was sentenced yesterday to 8 years and 4 months in prison for methamphetamine trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Director Tommy Loving of the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force made the announcement.

According to court documents, Joshua Moore¸ 39, possessed a Glock 19 nine-millimeter pistol on December 22, 2021. Moore was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On September 13, 2017, in the United States District Court, Western District of Kentucky, Moore was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. On August 24, 2009, in Warren Circuit Court, Moore was convicted of first-degree fleeing or evading police and unlawful possession of a methamphetamine precursor. Moore was also sentenced for distributing 21.09 grams of methamphetamine on April 4, 2022, distributing 24.6 grams of methamphetamine on April 13, 2022, and possessing with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine on May 31, 2022. All these crimes took place in Warren County, Kentucky.

Moore was on federal supervised release for his previous federal felony conviction at the time he committed the offenses on which he was sentenced yesterday. In addition to his 8-year and 4-month sentence, Moore was also sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently with each other, and his total sentence is 8 years and 4 months in prison. Following his release from prison, Moore was ordered to serve 4 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the ATF and the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced yesterday to 9 years and 7 months in prison after having been convicted by a jury in November 2022 of two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and one count of receiving a firearm while under felony indictment.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Antonio D. Williamson¸ 35, received a CZ-USA Scorpion Evo 3 9mm handgun in February 2020 from an individual. On May 22, 2021, Williamson was in possession of this handgun, and was captured on surveillance video at a local restaurant drive-thru pointing it at another person while he was driving a stolen vehicle. In September 2021 law enforcement executed a search warrant at Williamson’s residence where they located and seized additional ammunition and firearms, including a Romarm/Cugir, 7.62 caliber rifle, an American Tactical M1911, .45 caliber pistol, and an Eagle Arms, 5.56 caliber rifle. Williamson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of two felony burglary charges in Jefferson Circuit Court in December 2008. He was also under indictment beginning in 2019 in Jefferson Circuit Court on multiple felony charges, including being a persistent felony offender. Williamson was released on bond for the 2019 indictment when he received the 9mm handgun in February 2020.

Following the 9-year and 7-month prison sentence, Williamson was ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release. He was also fined $25,000.  There is no parole in the federal system.

“Strategic enforcement is a core principle of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN),” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. “We will continue to execute targeted enforcement efforts in partnership with our federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies as we work to make communities throughout the Western District safer for all.”

“Mr. Williamson is a persistent re-offender who will now spend a significant amount of time behind bars,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Cohen. “Keeping firearms out of the hands of convicted felons is critical to keeping our communities safe, and the FBI will stop at nothing to do so.”

This case was investigated by the FBI, the ATF, and the Louisville Metro Police Department with assistance by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Judd and Christopher Tieke prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced yesterday to 8 years and 4 months in federal prison for two counts of distributing fentanyl.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents, on September 15 and 22, 2021, Johnny Williams, Jr., 33, distributed 28 grams of a fentanyl mixture. In Jefferson Circuit Court, Williams had previously been convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree cocaine on June 5, 2008, in case number 08-CR-32189; trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree on October 12, 2009, in case number 10-CR-322; and trafficking in a controlled substance first degree cocaine on March 21, 2011, in case number 11-CR-1875.

Following the 8-year and 4-month prison sentence, Williams was ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the FBI and LMPD.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter prosecuted the case.

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Paducah, KY – Two Houston, Texas men were sentenced yesterday to federal prison for their roles in a theft from a Paducah ATM. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Chief Brian Laird of the Paducah Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents, Otis J. Gibson, 24, was sentenced to 38 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for bank larceny and interstate transportation of stolen funds. Eric J. Rhodes, 25, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, for bank larceny and interstate transportation of stolen funds. On June 10, 2020, Gibson, Rhodes, and unnamed co-conspirators stole cash from a stand-alone ATM located on Highway 60 near the Kentucky Oaks Mall in Paducah. The group used a stolen truck, chain, and pry bars to break open the ATM. Over $150,000 was stolen from the machine. They then traveled across state lines with the stolen cash. There is no parole in the federal system.

Gibson was also indicted by a federal grand jury in Missouri for his role in a January 9, 2020, ATM theft in Saint Louis. That indictment was transferred to the Western District of Kentucky. He was also sentenced today to a concurrent prison sentence for bank larceny charged in the Missouri indictment.

Gibson and Rhodes were ordered to pay $158,127 in restitution for bank larceny in Paducah. Gibson was ordered to pay an additional $98,748 for bank larceny in Saint Louis.

The FBI and the Paducah Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond McGee, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

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Paducah, KY – A Princeton, Kentucky man was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison for methamphetamine distribution offenses. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.

According to court documents, on separate dates in March, June, and August of 2021, in Caldwell County, Kentucky, Donald Ray Adams, 49, distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Further, on September 23, 2021, Adams possessed with the intent to distribute over 400 grams of methamphetamine. Adams was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the DEA Paducah post of duty and the Kentucky State Police, with assistance from the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office and the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

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Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced to nearly 4 years in prison yesterday for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal possession of a machine gun. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents, on February 13, 2023, Charles Divine, 27, possessed two Glock 9-millimeter pistols and a Glock switch, which is a device that allows a semi-automatic handgun to function as an automatic. A Glock switch is defined as a machine gun under federal law. Divine was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense. On June 30, 2020, in Oldham Circuit Court, Divine was convicted of wanton endangerment in the first degree.

Yesterday, Divine was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was investigated by the ATF and LMPD. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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Paducah, KY – A Christian County, Kentucky man was sentenced yesterday for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in McCracken County, Kentucky. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Division, and Paducah Police Chief Brian Laird made the announcement.

According to court documents, Michael Crawford, 29, of Oak Grove, Kentucky, possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in McCracken County, Kentucky.

Yesterday, Crawford was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Paducah post of duty and the Paducah Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

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Paducah, KY – The final member of a three-man methamphetamine distribution conspiracy was sentenced yesterday for his role in the conspiracy. All three men were also convicted of possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Sheriff Ryan Norman of the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

According to court documents, David Earl McElya, 44, a man with ties to both Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky, conspired with Patrick Alexander Lusco, 42, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Kevin Ray Roberts, 47, of Benton, Kentucky, to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in the Western District of Kentucky. All three men were also convicted of possessing with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. 

Yesterday, McElya was sentenced to 11 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Lusco was previously sentenced on November 8, 2022, to 12 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Roberts was also sentenced on November 8, 2022, to 10 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“This case demonstrates the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies at all levels – federal, state, and local,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. I commend our law enforcement partners for their outstanding investigative work in this matter and AUSA Hancock for his leadership during the successful prosecution of this case.”

This case was investigated by the DEA Paducah post of duty and the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Metropolis, Illinois Police Department, the Massac County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois Gaming Bureau, the Kentucky State Police, and the Greater Hardin County, Kentucky Drug Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

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Louisville, KY – A Louisville couple was sentenced yesterday to 8 months in federal prison for preparing false tax returns.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office made the announcement.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Krlos Hidalgo, 40, and Esther Baldeon, 41, added false dependents to their clients’ tax returns, which enabled the clients to receive additional child tax credits to which they were not entitled. Hidalgo and Baldeon were each sentenced to 8 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release for preparing false tax returns. There is no parole in the federal system.

Hidalgo and Baldeon also agreed to surrender, to the IRS, $127,015 in currency seized during the investigation.

The IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda E. Gregory prosecuted the case.

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Louisville, KY – U. S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky will join community organizers, neighbors, and law enforcement partners to participate in National Night Out events on August 1, 2023. During this year’s National Night Out, community events will be held across the Commonwealth, including five neighborhood events hosted by the Louisville Metro Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will attend LMPD’s Eighth Division festivities at Walker Warren Park in the Douglas Hills neighborhood, along with LMPD, ATF, FBI, DEA, and other local partners.

“We are excited to participate in National Night Out this year, as this is a great opportunity for fellowship with our local law enforcement partners and the communities we serve,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country. 

National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.

Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.

For more information, visit https://natw.org/.

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Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on August 1, 2023, charging a Bullitt County man with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Colonel Marcus Laytham, Chief of the Mt. Washington Police Department, made the announcement. 

According to the indictment, James Nott, 39, of Mt. Washington, Kentucky, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On July 11, 2023, Nott possessed an AK-type 7.62 mm rifle, a Charter Arms .38 special revolver, and ammunition. Nott was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On November 11, 2011, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Nott was convicted of possession of an unregistered destructive device and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of marijuana.

The felon in possession of a firearm offense charged in today’s indictment, arose from a federal search warrant executed at Nott’s residence in connection with a search for firearms and trafficked human remains. Nott previously made his initial appearance before a U.S.  Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, and he was ordered detained pending trial. Nott is scheduled for arraignment on August 4, 2023.

If convicted, Nott faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

The FBI and the Mt. Washington Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Tieke and Stephanie Zimdahl are prosecuting the case.

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

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Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment on July 11, 2023, charging a local woman with four counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, and two counts of money laundering related to fraud involving the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) financial assistance program.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Kelly Moening of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) Great Lakes Field Division made the announcement.

According to the indictment, between June 18, 2020, and September 22, 2021, Darlene McCoy, 66, filed one fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application and three fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, resulting in the theft of $165,416. McCoy utilized the entities Letz Get It Crackin’, a Kentucky Limited Liability Company, and Darlene McCoy d/b/a Reds Creative Events, an unregistered entity, to file the applications. McCoy falsely exaggerated the number of employees and payroll expenses of Letz Get It Crackin’ and the gross receipts of Reds Creative Events in the fraudulent applications. McCoy further applied for forgiveness for all three of the PPP loans, falsely stating the amount that had been spent on payroll. 

The Small Business Administration (SBA) PPP loans were designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses who were in operation on February 15, 2020, to keep their workers on the payroll. PPP loan proceeds were required to be used by the business on certain permissible expenses. Interest and principal on PPP loans could be entirely forgiven if the business spent the loan proceeds on the allowable expenses within a designated period and used a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.

McCoy made her initial court appearance on July 13, 2023, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, McCoy faces a maximum sentence of 130 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

TIGTA is investigating the case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Elver is prosecuting the case.

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.

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

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Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment on July 11, 2023, charging a local man with four counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering related to fraud involving the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) financial assistance program.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.

According to the indictment, between March 2020, and August 2022 Andrew Prell, 56, filed one fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application and two fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, resulting in the theft of $1,687,033. Prell utilized the entity Convergence of 4 Dimensions, a Kentucky, and Florida Limited Liability Company, to file the applications. Prell falsely exaggerated the number of employees, payroll expenses, and gross revenues of Convergence of 4 Dimensions in the fraudulent applications. In addition, Prell used the funds on unauthorized expenses under the CARES Act, including gambling and other personal expenses.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) PPP loans were designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses who were in operation on February 15, 2020, to keep their workers on the payroll. PPP loan proceeds were required to be used by the business on certain permissible expenses. Interest and principal on PPP loans could be entirely forgiven if the business spent the loan proceeds on the allowable expenses within a designated period and used a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.

Prell made his initial court appearance today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Prell faces a maximum sentence of 120 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

FBI is investigating the case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Calhoun is prosecuting the case.

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.

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

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Louisville, KY – A Louisville, Kentucky, man was sentenced yesterday to 20 months in prison for illegal possession a machine gun.   

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement.

According to court documents, Cameron Jaimes, 19, was sentenced to 20 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a machine gun, a Glock switch. Jaimes admitted to possessing a Glock switch which is a device which allows a semi-automatic handgun to function as an automatic. A Glock switch is defined as a machine gun under federal law.

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the ATF with the assistance from the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.   

Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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Louisville, KY – A Kentucky woman was sentenced to nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for mailing communications to her neighbors in 2020 threatening to injure them because of their race.

According to court documents, Suzanne Craft, 55, of Louisville, sent multiple threatening communications via the U.S. Postal Service to an interracial couple and their children, who lived in the same Lake Forest neighborhood as Craft. Many of these communications contained threats of violence and racial slurs.

Following a jury trial in March, Craft was convicted of five counts of mailing threatening communications. The jury further found that, for each of these five counts, Craft sent the threatening communications to her neighbors because of their actual or perceived race or color.

“This sentence sends a clear message regarding our commitment to ending hate-motivated violence and threats of violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There is no room in civilized society for violent threats based on race. We hope that this result brings some measure of peace to victims who had to suffer through the defendant’s terrifying threats of racial violence.”

“I commend the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the trial team for their outstanding work during the investigation and prosecution of this case,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “The citizens of the Western District who live in communities throughout our 53 counties have the right to live and raise their families free from threats of violence made on the basis of race. The nine-year sentence imposed by the court in this case sends a strong message that this type of activity is criminal, will not be tolerated and that this office will take action to protect our citizens from racial hatred.”

“Today’s sentencing is indicative of the egregious behavior Craft levied on her neighbors,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “Racially-charged threats will not be tolerated in our communities, and if discovered, will be fully investigated and the perpetrators will be held accountable.”

Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Bennett, Special Agent in Charge Cohen and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division made the announcement.

The FBI Louisville Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tieke and Stephanie Zimdahl for the Western District of Kentucky prosecuted the case, with assistance from paralegal Carissa Moss.

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A Kentucky woman was sentenced to nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for mailing communications to her neighbors in 2020 threatening to injure them because of their race.

According to court documents, Suzanne Craft, 55, of Louisville, sent multiple threatening communications via the U.S. Postal Service to an interracial couple and their children, who lived in the same neighborhood as Craft. Many of these communications contained threats of violence and racial slurs.

Following the jury trial in March, Craft was convicted of five counts of mailing threatening communications. The jury further found that, for each of these five counts, Craft sent the threatening communications to her neighbors because of their actual or perceived race or color.

“This sentence sends a clear message regarding our commitment to ending hate-motivated violence and threats of violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There is no room in civilized society for violent threats based on race. We hope that this result brings some measure of peace to victims who had to suffer through the defendant’s terrifying threats of racial violence.”

“I commend the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the trial team for their outstanding work during the investigation and prosecution of this case,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “The citizens of the Western District who live in communities throughout our 53 counties have the right to live and raise their families free from threats of violence made on the basis of race. The nine-year sentence imposed by the court in this case sends a strong message that this type of activity is criminal, will not be tolerated and that this office will take action to protect our citizens from racial hatred.”

“Today’s sentencing is indicative of the egregious behavior Craft levied on her neighbors,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “Racially-charged threats will not be tolerated in our communities, and if discovered, will be fully investigated and the perpetrators will be held accountable.”

Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Bennett, Special Agent in Charge Cohen and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division made the announcement.

The FBI Louisville Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tieke and Stephanie Zimdahl for the Western District of Kentucky prosecuted the case, with assistance from paralegal Carissa Moss.

Louisville, KY – A Hardin County man was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for child pornography offenses.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.

According to court documents, in Hardin County Kentucky, Michael Smith, 30, produced videos of his sexual abuse of a minor victim, and uploaded images and videos of child pornography to a cloud-based storage application via the internet. Smith was sentenced to 40 years in prison, followed by a 20-term of supervised release, for producing, transporting, and possessing child pornography. There is no parole in the federal system.

In addition to the 40-year prison sentence, Smith was ordered to pay restitution to victims in the amount of $6,000. 

“I commend the FBI and LMPD for their investigation of this case as well as AUSA McKiness for his work prosecuting Smith,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “The sexual exploitation of children in the Western District is a top priority of this office. We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who harm our children.”

The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Spencer McKiness prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

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Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on July 19, 2023, charging a Jefferson County man with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.   

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Jonathan Rivera, 33, of Louisville, Kentucky, was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On July 10, 2023, Rivera possessed a Taurus GC3, 9-millimeter, semi-automatic handgun, and ammunition. Rivera was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On September 14, 2009, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Rivera was convicted of two counts of burglary in the second degree.

The defendant made his initial court appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Rivera faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.   

This case is being investigated by the ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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

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Paducah, KY – A Mayfield, Kentucky man was sentenced last week to 15 years in prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Sheriff Ryan Norman of the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, and Sheriff Jon Hayden of the Graves County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

According to court documents, on February 22, 2022, in Graves County, Kentucky, Deanthony L. Noonan, 37, possessed with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a methamphetamine mixture. Noonan was sentenced last week to 15 years in prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a methamphetamine mixture. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the DEA Paducah post of duty, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, and the Graves County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

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Bowling Green, KY – An Adair County man was sentenced today to 27 years in prison for child pornography offenses.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.

According to court documents, Matthew Ross Mouser, 41, produced videos of his sexual abuse of a minor victim, traded images of child pornography via the internet, and discussed sexually abusing children with others online.

Mouser was sentenced to 27 years in prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography. In addition to the 27-year prison sentence, Mouser was ordered to pay restitution to a victim in the amount of $3,000. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the FBI, with the assistance of the Allen County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Spencer McKiness prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

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Paducah, KY – A Paducah, Kentucky woman was sentenced this week to 5 years in prison for charges related to methamphetamine conspiracy and distribution offenses. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Sheriff Ryan Norman of the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

According to court documents, Samantha Bennett, 30, was sentenced this week to 5 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Previously, on February 23, 2023, co-defendant James Russell Hayden, 51, of Paducah, Kentucky, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Hayden was convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm by a convicted felon. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the DEA Paducah post of duty and the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the ATF and the Kentucky Department of Probation and Parole.   

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

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Paducah, KY – Two Livingston County men have been sentenced for their roles in a local drug and firearms investigation. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement.

According to court documents, on July 19, 2023, Richard Middleton, 41, of Tiline, Kentucky, was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for distributing methamphetamine and possessing firearms after having been convicted of felony offenses. On May 23, 2023, Bobby Copeland, 52, also of Tiline, Kentucky, was sentenced to 6 years and 5 months in prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the ATF Paducah Post of Duty, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Western Kentucky Violent Crimes Task Force, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kentucky State Police. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

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Paducah, KY – A Calloway County, Kentucky woman was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for illegally transporting a stolen firearm. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement. 

According to court documents, Denise Collins, 35, illegally transported and received a firearm stolen outside of the state of Kentucky on April 25, 2022. The firearm, a Sig Sauer, model P365 XL, .9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, was a stolen firearm transported from Tennessee to Kentucky by Collins, aided and abetted by Gary Rowland. The firearm was ultimately used by Rowland to shoot and kill Calloway County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jody Cash on May 16, 2022. 

Collins was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“The tragic murder of Chief Deputy Cash serves as a stark reminder for all Kentuckians of the sacrifices made daily by those who wear the badge and keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “Along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to strategically investigate and aggressively prosecute those who violate federal firearms laws so that the Western District is safer for all who live and work here.”

“Kentucky lost a hero, a man who dedicated his life to serving the Commonwealth, when Calloway County Chief Deputy Jody Cash was murdered,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Morrow. “This is a terrible reminder of what can happen when a firearm ends up in the hands of someone prohibited from possessing them. ATF is committed to combatting firearms trafficking and the violence it can cause in our communities. I commend the ATF case agents, the prosecution team and our law enforcement partners including Kentucky State Police, Murray Police, McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, and the Paris Police Department in Tennessee, who worked together to bring some sense of justice to Deputy Cash and his family.”

This case was investigated by the ATF with the assistance from the Kentucky State Police, the Murray Police Department, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, and the Paris Tennessee Police Department.

 Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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Louisville, KY –A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant were issued today charging a Bullitt County man with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Colonel Marcus Laytham, Chief of the Mt. Washington Police Department, made the announcement. 

According to the complaint, James Nott, 40, of Mt. Washington, Kentucky, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On July 11, 2023, Nott possessed an AK-47 rifle, a .38 special, Charter Arms, revolver, and ammunition. Nott was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On November 11, 2011, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Nott was convicted of possession of an unregistered destructive device and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of marijuana.

The felon in possession of a firearm offense charged in today’s complaint, arose from a federal search warrant executed at Nott’s residence today, in connection with a search for firearms and trafficked human remains.

Nott made his initial appearance today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Nott remains in federal custody and is scheduled for a detention hearing on July 12, 2023, at 3:00 p.m.

If convicted, Nott faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

The FBI and the Mt. Washington Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Tieke and Stephanie Zimdahl are prosecuting the case.

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

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Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on June 21, 2023, charging a local man with failure to update his Sex Offender Registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and United States Marshal Gary B. Burman of the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.

According to the indictment, between September 8, 2017, and June 2023, Charles M. Burleson, 44, of Louisville, Kentucky, failed to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Burleson was required to register by reason of a conviction under federal law and knowingly failed to update a registration as required by the Act.

The defendant made his initial court appearance this week and a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky conducted a detention hearing, after which the judge ordered that Burleson remain in federal custody. If convicted, Burleson faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.   

The case is being investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jo E. Lawless is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

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

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Bowling Green, KY – An Allen County man was sentenced yesterday to 11 years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Sheriff Brandon Ford of the Allen County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

According to court documents, on April 3, 2022, in Allen County, Kentucky, Michael Johnson, 46, possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Johnson was sentenced to 11 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the DEA Bowling Green Post of Duty Office and the Allen County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the United States Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

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Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced this week to 15 years and 8 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to court records, On June 28, 2023, Brandon Hillard, 23, was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for possessing with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of a fentanyl mixture. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the FBI Louisville Filed Office and the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Bonar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz prosecuted the case.

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Louisville, KY –A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant were issued earlier this week charging a local man with online enticement.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Colonel Greg Smith, Chief of the Oldham County Police Department, made the announcement. 

According to court records, in January and February of 2023, Richard Pelphrey, 33, met a minor female victim on a social networking application. The two subsequently met in person, and the victim told Pelphrey she was 15 years old. On more than one occasion, Pelphrey drove the victim to his home in Louisville, Kentucky, where they engaged in sexual activities.

Pelphrey made his initial appearance today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Pelphrey remains in federal custody and is scheduled for a detention hearing on July 5, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.

If convicted, Pelphrey faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and maximum potential penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

The FBI and the Oldham County Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

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

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Owensboro, KY – This week, the fourth and final member of an Owensboro federal drug trafficking conspiracy was sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Sheila Lyons of the DEA Chicago Field Division, and Chief Art Ealum of the Owensboro Police Department made the announcement.

On June 29, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Owensboro Division, Darrell Murphy, 48, of Owensboro, was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.

On March 29, 2023, Terry Cook, 45, of Owensboro, was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.

On March 16, 2023, William Darmell Murphy, 61, of Owensboro, was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.

On March 16, 2023, Elizabeth Breanne Harris, 41, of Owensboro, was sentenced to 3 years in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.

There is no parole in the federal system.

The DEA Evansville Resident Office and Owensboro Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Dahl.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned a two-count indictment on May 2, 2023, charging two local men with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.   

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to the indictment, John Lindsay, 35, and Rayshawn Lee, 35, both of Louisville, are each charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  

According to the indictment, on January 22, 2023, Lindsay possessed a Taurus, Model G3C, 9-millimeter pistol. Lindsay was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On November 4, 2016, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lindsay was convicted of burglary in the third degree. On November 28, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lindsay was convicted of promoting contraband and tampering with physical evidence. On July 21, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lindsay was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2 counts), trafficking in a controlled substance I schedule II cocaine less than four grams, wanton endangerment I (2 counts), illegal possession of a controlled substance schedule I marijuana while in possession of a firearm, illegal possession of drug paraphernalia while in possession of a firearm, intimidating a participant in the legal process, strangulation II, assault IV third or subsequent offense, and criminal mischief I. 

Also, according to the indictment, on January 22, 2023, Lee possessed a Kel-Tec, Model PF-9, 9-millimeter pistol. Lee was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On September 10, 2008, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lee was convicted of assault second degree. On August 14, 2017, Lee was convicted of wanton endangerment in the second degree. 

The defendants made their initial court appearance on June 28, 2023, before a U S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Both defendants remain in federal custody. If convicted, both defendants face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.   

This case is being investigated by ATF and LMPD.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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

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Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky, returned a six-count indictment on April 12, 2023, charging six defendants with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and seven total defendants with methamphetamine trafficking related offenses.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Director Tommy Loving of the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force made the announcement.

According to the indictment, the following six defendants were each charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine between June 1, 2022, and March 7, 2023:

Leroy B. Riggsbee, 38, of Bowling Green, KY,

Shantaja S. Hutchins, 46, of Bowling Green, KY,

Jeffery W. Glass, 50, of Bowling Green, KY,

Tyler P. Houchens, 28, of Glasgow, KY,

Brandon T. Trent, 24, of Bowling Green, KY, and

Joseph A. Raby, 40, of Bowling Green, KY.

Each defendant also faces additional charges. Riggsbee and Glass are charged with aiding and abetting each other in the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on June 28, 2022. Riggsbee is charged with distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on August 24, 2022. Riggsbee and Houchens are charged with aiding and abetting each other in the possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on September 22, 2022. Trent, Raby, Riggsbee, and Hutchins are all charged with aiding and abetting each other in the possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on January 4, 2023.

Antoine Bass, 40, of Bowling Green, who was not charged in the conspiracy, was charged with Hutchins for aiding and abetting each other in the distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine on March 7, 2023.

Riggsbee, Hutchins, Glass, Houchens, Trent, and Raby all face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Bass faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

The ATF Bowling Green Field Office and the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, is prosecuting this case.

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

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Louisville, KY – U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett announced criminal charges against four defendants in connection with two health care fraud and opioid abuse scheme cases prosecuted in the Western District of Kentucky, as part of the Department of Justice’s 2023 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action. The charges stem from pharmacy owners and employees taking opioids from their pharmacies and distributing the drugs on the street and, in some instances, billing insurance fraudulently.

“This nationwide enforcement action demonstrates that the Criminal Division is committed to fighting health care fraud and opioid abuse by prosecuting those who exploit health care benefit programs and patients for personal gain,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s announcement includes some of the largest and most complex cases that the Department has prosecuted, and demonstrates the Department’s commitment to seeking justice for those at all levels of the healthcare industry who put profits above patient care, from professionals in doctors’ offices to executives in corporate boardrooms.”

The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Bennett are part of a strategically coordinated, two-week nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 78 individuals for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that resulted in over $2.5 billion in alleged fraud. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled, and, in some cases, used the proceeds of the schemes to purchase luxury items, including exotic automobiles and yachts.

In the Western District of Kentucky, two separate cases were charged on June 14, 2023, and June 26, 2023. The charges included conspiracy to commit theft of medical products, conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making a false writing.

Specifically, in United Stated v. Joseph and Jenifer Huff, pharmacist Joseph Patrick Huff, 44, and Jenifer Huff, 44, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, were charged by superseding indictment on June 14, 2023, with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of medical products, one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, six counts of health care fraud-Adderall fraud, four counts of health care fraud-Eliquis fraud, two counts of health care fraud-Nicotrol and Linzess fraud, one count aggravated identity theft, and one count of making a false writing. The indictment charges the Huffs with conspiring to take, carry away, and conceal and knowingly possess, transport and traffic a pre-retail medical product, namely oxycodone and hydrocodone, with a value over $5000, and conspiring to sell and trade the oxycodone and hydrocodone for marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Additionally, Joseph Huff is charged with falsely and fraudulently billing various health care benefit programs for Adderall XR to obtain a higher reimbursement rate. Joseph Huff also is charged with falsely and fraudulently billing commercial insurance for dispensing Eliquis to a patient when in fact the patient never received the Eliquis medication. In addition, Joseph Huff and Jenifer Huff are charged with falsely and fraudulently billing Kentucky Medicaid for prescriptions dispensed to Jenifer Huff when in fact no physician or nurse practitioner issued an order for the prescriptions. Joseph Huff is also charged with using the name and National Provider Identifier number of a physician without lawful authority when he billed Kentucky Medicaid for a prescription dispensed to Jenifer Huff. Finally, Joseph Huff is charged with filing a false DEA Form 106, reporting the theft of narcotics, which were not actually stolen.

In United States v. Stephen Troy Wilmoth and Ashley Ramsey-Wilmoth, Stephen Troy Wilmoth, 45, and pharmacy technician Ashley Ramsey-Wilmoth, 41, of Hodgenville, Kentucky, were charged by information on June 27, 2023, with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of medical products and one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. The information charges the Wilmoths with conspiring to take, carry away, and conceal and knowingly possess, transport and traffic a pre-retail medical product, namely oxycodone and hydrocodone, with a value over $5000, and conspiring to sell and trade the oxycodone and hydrocodone. Ashley Ramsey-Wilmoth, an employee of Century Medicines, a retail pharmacy in the supply chain for oxycodone and hydrocodone, took, carried away and concealed unopened bottles of oxycodone and hydrocodone from Century Medicines prior to the oxycodone and hydrocodone being made available for retail purchase by a consumer. She then provided the oxycodone and hydrocodone to her husband, Stephen Troy Wilmoth, to sell and distribute.

These cases are being investigated by the DEA, the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, the Kentucky State Police, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Office of Inspector General.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Ansari.

Principal Assistant Deputy Chief Jacob Foster and Acting Assistant Chief Rebecca Yuan of the National Rapid Response Strike Force of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section led and coordinated the enforcement action. The Health Care Fraud Unit’s Strike Forces in Brooklyn, Dallas, Detroit, the Gulf Coast, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, and Tampa; the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response Strike Force; the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Southern District of Georgia, District of Idaho, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of Ohio, District of South Carolina, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Washington, and Eastern District of Wisconsin; and the State Attorney Generals’ Offices for Indiana, New York, and Pennsylvania are prosecuting these cases, with assistance from the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team. Descriptions of cases involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit/2023-national-hcf-court-documents.

The Fraud Section uses the Victim Notification System to provide victims with case information and updates related to this case. Victims with questions may contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Assistance Unit by calling the Victim Assistance phone line at 1-888-549-3945 or by emailing [email protected]. To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas, and for further information for victims about new federal charges in connection with the HIV scheme, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/case/united-states-v-steven-diamantstein.

A complaint, information, or indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Louisville, KY – A Texas man, who is a citizen of Ghana and the United Kingdom, was sentenced today after being convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge of Headquarters Operations John T. Perez of the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard of the Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.

According to court documents, Joshua Roberts, 32, participated in a scheme to conceal the source of proceeds of criminal activity. As part of the scheme, Roberts established a sham company to launder illicit funds from a Business Email Compromise scheme. Business Email Compromise is a sophisticated scam that targets both businesses and individuals who perform legitimate transfer-of-funds requests. The scam is frequently carried out when a subject compromises legitimate business or personal email accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion to conduct unauthorized transfers of funds.

Roberts was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Roberts was also ordered to pay $831,996.84 in restitution. Roberts’ sentence of imprisonment will run concurrent to a sentence he is serving for related crimes in a case arising out of the Northern District of Georgia. There is no parole in the federal system.

On September 26, 2022, Peggy McDowell Brown, 69, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was sentenced to 2 years of probation for her role in the conspiracy. Brown was also ordered to pay $831,996.84 in restitution. 

On October 21, 2022, Olajide Samuel Agbaniyaka, 33, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month in federal prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, for his role in the conspiracy.  Agbaniyaka was also ordered to pay $1,117,000.54 in restitution. 

The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne Keel prosecuted the case.

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Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an eleven-count indictment on June 21, 2023, charging four men with trafficking in methamphetamine and fentanyl, and one with a firearm offense and money laundering.  

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Ron Eckart of the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force made the announcement.

According to the indictment, between January 1, 2019, and December 9, 2022, Chaz Hughes, 30, of Louisville, Kentucky, Joshua Salazar, 33, of Lebanon, Kentucky, Curtis Cunningham, 26, of Lebanon, Kentucky, and Steven Edlin, 49, of Loretto, Kentucky conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture and 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture.

Hughes is also charged in a separate count with distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Salazar is also charged in a separate count with distributing 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and six-counts of money laundering. Salazar was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On July 29, 2011, in Marion Circuit Court, Salazar was convicted of trafficking in cocaine. On August 19, 2016, in Nelson Circuit Court, Salazar, was convicted of trafficking in cocaine, felon in possession of a handgun, and felon in possession of a firearm.

Cunningham is also charged in a separate count for distributing a fentanyl mixture.

As of today, Salazar, Hughes, Cunningham, and Edlin have all made their initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Hughes and Salazar face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. If convicted, Cunningham and Edlin face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.   

This case is being investigated by the DEA, the IRS, the ATF, the KSP, and the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Ansari is prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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

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