A Lexington man, Keith Lamont Stallworth, 41, has been sentenced to 65 years in federal prison after being convicted of several firearms offenses and pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges. U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell handed down the sentence on Thursday.
Stallworth was found guilty in August 2025 of carrying and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, possessing a machine gun in furtherance of drug trafficking, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, possessing a machine gun, and failing to register the machine gun. He also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute significant amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as using his residence for manufacturing and distributing controlled substances.
Testimony at trial revealed that Stallworth was arrested in August 2023 while carrying a .57 caliber Palmetto Arms pistol loaded with high velocity rifle rounds and an extended magazine. Authorities executed a search warrant at his downtown Lexington apartment, where they found large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, another handgun, and an illegally modified .40 caliber pistol equipped with a device converting it into a fully automatic weapon.
Federal law requires Stallworth to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for release. After serving his prison term, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for ten years.
The sentencing was announced by Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott from the DEA Louisville Field Division; John Nokes from ATF Louisville Field; Phillip J. Burnett Jr., Commissioner of Kentucky State Police; Chief Lawrence Weathers from Lexington Police Department; Chief Michael Fleming from Nicholasville Police Department; and Sheriff Kevin Grimes from Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation involved cooperation between multiple agencies including the DEA, ATF, Kentucky State Police (KSP), Lexington Police Department, Nicholasville Police Department, and Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker and retired Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West.
“Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field; Phillip J. Burnett Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department; Chief Michael Fleming, Nicholasville Police Department; and Sheriff Kevin Grimes Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office announced the sentencing.”
