LEXINGTON, Ky. - Brandon Hayden, 37, of Lexington, was found guilty today, by a federal jury, of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana and attempt to possess with the intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana.
The jury returned the verdict after a 2-day trial. The evidence established that on July 17, 2018, Hayden was at the Love’s truck stop in Richmond, Kentucky to meet an anticipated delivery of 200 pounds of marijuana. Earlier in the month, Hayden had received multiple photographs of bags and bales of marijuana buds on his cellular telephone, with texts indicating that marijuana was on its way to him. On July 17, 2018, the marijuana was being hauled in multiple duffle bags, inside the cab of a tractor-trailer that had picked up the marijuana from El Paso, Texas and South Carolina. Hayden met Vincent Raglin, a co-defendant who pleaded guilty to the conspiracy, in the parking lot of the truck stop. Hayden and Raglin then drove to the spot where the tractor-trailer was parked. After Raglin got out of his vehicle and collected the first duffle bag, the two were arrested. The total weight of the marijuana was 91.9 kilograms.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Christopher Evans, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration; Richard Sanders, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; and Charles Matthews, Chief of Police, Pineville Police Department, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.
Hayden is currently scheduled to appear for sentencing, in Lexington, on May 13, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. Hayden faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years. However, his sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of sentences.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Kentucky State Police, and the Pineville Police Department.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
