Illegal activity transpired in Simpson County, involved three co-defendants, and approximately
one and a half pounds of crystal methamphetamine
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Three South-Central Kentucky men have been sentenced to prison terms, in United States District Court, by District Judge Greg N. Stivers, for conspiring to knowingly and intentionally possess with the intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
Howell Dean O’Bryan, 42, of Allensville, located in Todd County, Kentucky, was sentenced today to serve 90 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Jordan Dale Wallace, 30, of Morgantown, was sentenced on July 20, 2017, to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and Danny Neal Stokes, 62, of Russellville, was sentenced on July 24, 2017, to 180 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, for their roles in the drug conspiracy. All three defendants remain in federal custody.
According to court records, law enforcement officials learned of the criminal activity on May 15, 2015, during a drug-interdiction effort in Franklin, Kentucky. The Kentucky State Police located Howell Dean O’Bryan, who at the time was suspected to be involved in a meth trafficking organization. Once the law enforcement officials realized O’Bryan was at a local motel, they set up surveillance. When O’Bryan left the motel, law enforcement officials followed him to a local shopping center and made contact. They used a state police K-9 that alerted on O’Bryan’s vehicle for the presence of narcotics. When law enforcement officials searched O’Bryan’s vehicle, they found one pound of suspected methamphetamine, two AR-15 semi-automatic rifles, and one semi-automatic handgun under the driver's seat.
O’Bryan admitted he was selling the one pound of crystal methamphetamine to Wallace for $14,500.00. Wallace owed O’Bryan for an additional ounce of crystal methamphetamine that he had previously given to him. According to O’Bryan, Wallace should have had approximately $16,000.00 for the pound and previous ounce of crystal methamphetamine. O’Bryan and Wallace had just talked by phone when Wallace stated he was on his way with the money. During a monitored phone call to Wallace, Wallace confirmed that he was on his way to meet O’Bryan and had what he was supposed to bring. The two talked about having to weigh it out once Wallace arrived and agreed on a meeting location.
That same day, May 15, 2015, Wallace travelled to Simpson County, Kentucky, to pay for approximately one pound of crystal methamphetamine. The actual amount of methamphetamine, according to laboratory analysis was 459.3 grams of pure methamphetamine.
During a traffic stop of Wallace’s vehicle, Kentucky State Police Troopers identified Wallace as the driver. The Troopers asked for consent to search the vehicle, which Wallace declined. The Troopers asked Wallace if he had any drugs, weapons or large sums of money in the vehicle and Wallace stated no. Trooper Wesley and his K-9 partner conducted an open air search of the vehicle and the K-9 gave a positive indication on the vehicle. Troopers searched the vehicle and recovered $16,194.00 in United States currency. Wallace initially stated that he intended to use the money to purchase a car, but could provide no details. After his arrest several months later, Wallace admitted that the money was to be used to pay the co-conspirator for methamphetamine.
On July 25, 2015, in Simpson County, Kentucky, Stokes knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine. The actual amount of methamphetamine, according to laboratory analysis was 162.5 grams of pure methamphetamine (roughly six ounces). Law enforcement officials found the methamphetamine in a bag with $184,597.00 in United States currency following a traffic stop of the vehicle Stokes was driving.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Kentucky State Police (including its Vehicle Enforcement Division), conducted the investigation.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
