A Bowling Green man has been sentenced to 18 years and 4 months in federal prison after being convicted of drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Joshua O. Duncan, 40, was found guilty of possessing with intent to distribute over 4,600 grams of methamphetamine and more than 570 grams of fentanyl in Warren County, Kentucky, on February 15, 2024. He also possessed four handguns while prohibited from owning firearms due to previous felony convictions.
Duncan’s prior convictions include first-degree trafficking in controlled substances—methamphetamine and cocaine—in Logan Circuit Court in 2018, 2012, and 2010. Following his latest conviction, the court ordered a sentence that includes five years of supervised release after his prison term.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner stated: “Joshua Duncan is a longtime drug dealer in and around Warren County that was given plenty of chances to reform his behavior. Unfortunately, he doubled down on his criminal ways, distributing even more methamphetamine and fentanyl into our community while armed with four handguns. Warren County is safer today because of this lengthy sentence—the culmination of fantastic work between local, state, and federal agents.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge John Nokes commented: “We are proud to partner with the Warren County Drug Task Force and will continue to prioritize our investigative resources to focus on those who wish to deal in dangerous drugs and violence in Central Kentucky. This significant sentence is an example of what should be expected by our strong collaborative effort.”
Director Tommy Loving of the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force said: “We are pleased to see justice served in the case of a significant drug trafficker selling poison in Bowling Green and Warren County. This case underscores the continued cooperation of law enforcement partners—local, state, and federal—working together to bring cases before the United States Attorney for prosecution and sentencing without the possibility of parole. The community can be assured that he will not be trafficking drugs for the next 18 years.”
Federal sentences do not allow for parole.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF Bowling Green Field Office along with the Bowling Green/Warren County AHIDTA Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II prosecuted the case.
This conviction falls under Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration, transnational criminal organizations, cartels, and violent crime through coordinated efforts such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
