During a 43-day lapse in federal appropriations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky continued its efforts against drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession. The office secured multiple sentences related to these crimes across several counties.
On October 6, Bryan Anicasio-Miranda of Lexington was sentenced to 70 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. His prior conviction prohibited him from having firearms, but he was found with them on two separate occasions after his felony conviction.
Samuel Young from Reynoldsburg, Ohio received a 37-month sentence for similar charges after law enforcement recovered a firearm during a vehicle stop in March 2024. Young admitted he knew he was not allowed to possess firearms due to his criminal record.
Khmari Smith of Lexington was sentenced to 324 months for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as possessing firearms linked to drug trafficking offenses. Investigators traced the distribution operation from Detroit to Kentucky, ultimately finding large quantities of drugs and dozens of firearms at residences connected to Smith and his brother Khari Qunarll Smith. Co-defendant Brianna Hanspard admitted her role in transporting drugs; Khari Smith and Hanspard had already been sentenced.
On October 8, Jonathan Blevins of Corbin received 110 months for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine between April and June 2024 alongside co-defendants who were previously sentenced.
Gary Wayne Isaacs from Burlington was given 186 months on October 10 for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute after providing false identification during a traffic stop where police found nearly 74 grams of the drug.
On October 14, Khalil Washington of Lexington received a sentence of 240 months following an arrest that yielded over one kilogram of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and a loaded firearm. Jeffrey L. McDaniel from London got 120 months for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine through multiple counties between June and July 2024.
John Robert Eckler from Lexington was sentenced to 70 months after law enforcement seized a package containing large amounts of methamphetamine which he admitted intending to deliver elsewhere.
Matthew Martin from Corbin received a sentence of 78 months on October 16 for conspiring with others over one year period starting June 2023 to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in three counties; both co-defendants were also sentenced earlier that month.
Ronald Dugger from London got an 88-month sentence on October 31 for possessing methamphetamine with intent while on federal supervised release; officers found cash and drugs at his residence following a search warrant execution.
Eric Watson, an inmate at United States Penitentiary McCreary, received108 months on November3for assaultingafederal officerafter refusing orders duringan altercationand attacking astaff memberuntil subdued by responding staff.
Jacque Harmon JonesofLexingtonwassentencedto150monthsforpossessionwithintenttodistributeover100gramsoffluorofentanylandpossessionofa firearmin furtheranceofdrugtrafficking.Policefoundmixturesoffluorofentanylandfentanyl,cash,andaloadedfirearminhisresidenceinFebruary2024.Jonesadmittedtotheoffenses.
Quincy TaylorfromLexingtonreceived360monthsforpossessingcocainewithintenttodistribute,possessionofa firearmin furtheranceofdrugtrafficking,andbeingaconvictedfeloninpossessionofa firearm.Taylor’ssentencewasenhancedduetohisstatusasanArmedCareerCriminalbasedonhissignificantpriorcriminalhistoryfollowingatrialwherethejuryheardhowhetriedtogiveawayadrug-filledbagafteracaraccidentbeforehidingitandleavingthescene.Hehadmultiplepriordrugconvictionsandwasprohibitedfrompossessingfirearmsasafelon.More information about Armed Career Criminal sentencing enhancements can be found here.
Jaloni Andrews (Richmond) and Bridgett Vance (Strunk) were sentenced on November4to144monthsand27months,respectively.Andrewswassentencedfordistributionoffakefentanylpillsdesignedtomimicoxycodone.Vancepleadedguiltytopossessionwithintenttodistributeoxycodoneafterlawenforcementstoppedhervehicleandrecoveredpillsandcashintendedfordistribution.ShehadobtainedthepillsfromsuppliersinLexingtonafterpreviouslyusingalocalsource.The DEA provides additional facts about counterfeit pills containing fentanyl here.
Floyd Jenkins (Munford, Alabama) was given212monthsonNovember6forpossessingmethamphetamineto distribute.Lawenforcementseizedover300gramsinhisvehicle.Hisco-defendantFrederickHolt,Jr.waspreviouslysentencedinAugust2025forrelatedcharges.
Shane Brock(London)wassentencedto97monthsonNovember12formethamphetaminedistributionconspiracybetweenJanuary2021andMarch2022.BrockdistributedpoundquantitiesreceivedfromStaceySmithwhoalsodistributedtotraffickersandoverallresponsibleforthedeliveryofover500gramsofdrugsduringthatperiod.Methamphetamine-related overdose deaths have been increasing nationally according to CDC data available here.
Charles Phillip Dozier(Baxter)received100monthsasthefinaldefendantinalargemethamphetaminedistributionconspiracy.InFebruary2023policefound140gramsofmethamphetamineandaloadedhandgunhiddeninhismotelfollowingasearch.Dozier’sco-defendantshadbeenpreviouslysentencedto64months(JessicaNicoleCreech),164months(GregoryMills),and180months(DavidHale).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office highlighted these cases as examples of ongoing work despite challenges posed by lapses in government funding.
