A Dayton, Ohio man has been sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison for his role in a fentanyl analogue trafficking conspiracy. Germel Hughes, 45, received a 222-month sentence from Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning on Friday for conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue and aiding and abetting the intended distribution of at least that amount.
Court documents state that on January 2, 2024, law enforcement used a confidential informant to arrange a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Earnest Bryson. Bryson agreed to sell one kilogram of fentanyl to the informant. The next day, Bryson and co-defendants Julius Cole and Gerald Young traveled from Dayton, Ohio to Fort Wright, Kentucky with the intent to deliver the drugs.
Upon arrival in Kentucky, law enforcement officers stopped their vehicle and forcibly removed the occupants. During a search of the vehicle, authorities found evidence that an attempt had been made to destroy the drugs by mixing them with Coca-Cola. Testing confirmed that some of the mixture contained both fentanyl and fluorofentanyl, which is classified as a fentanyl analogue. Further investigation determined that Hughes supplied at least 100 grams of drugs meant for distribution.
Julius Cole and Gerald Young have pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. Cole was sentenced to 132 months in prison while Young received an 18-month sentence.
Hughes will be required under federal law to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for release. After completing his prison term, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for ten years.
The sentencing announcement was made jointly by Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge at ATF Louisville Field Division; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge at DEA Louisville Field Division; Director Scott Hardcorn of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force; and Phillip J. Burnett Jr., Commissioner of Kentucky State Police.
The case was investigated by agents from ATF, DEA, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force and Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow prosecuted the case.
