Jury deliberated 38 minutes before reaching unanimous verdict
OWENSBORO, Ky. - United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. today announced the conviction of a Muhlenberg County, Kentucky resident, in United States District Court, on a single charge of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Kenneth Copley, 62, was taken into federal custody following the unanimous jury verdict reached in just 38 minutes, on April 12, 2017, before Chief Judge Joseph H McKinley Jr.
Evidence presented during the three-day trial included 800 grams of a substance, tested and identified as 100% pure methamphetamine. The controlled substance was seized during a traffic stop, and during a consent search by a Kentucky State Police trooper, on Feb. 24, 2015 in Muhlenberg County. Methamphetamine was found in Copley’s vehicle and a subsequent search of Copley’s garage. While consent was given to search the residence and garage, detectives obtained a search warrant.
Copley was charged, in a single count federal indictment on March 9, 2016. Copley is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of no less than ten years in prison followed by a five year period of supervised release and could be fined up to $10,000,000. Sentencing is scheduled in Owensboro, before Judge McKinley, July 10, 2017, at 9:00 AM CT.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Larry Fentress and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Kentucky State Police, Hopkinsville Sheriff’s Department, and Madisonville Police Department.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
