A Newport, Kentucky man, Raymond Hammond Jr., aged 38, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentencing was delivered by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning.
The case dates back to March 1, 2024, when law enforcement intercepted a package containing over 1300 grams of a methamphetamine mixture addressed to a Newport residence. Following the interception, agents discovered inquiries about the package from a specific phone number. On March 5, 2024, a controlled delivery of the package was executed at the residence. Once inside the house, agents found Hammond's co-defendant Redrick Mincy and the package. Mincy confessed that he had agreed to receive the package on behalf of Hammond. Hammond was subsequently arrested and admitted his intention to distribute the methamphetamine.
Mincy has already been sentenced to one year and one day in prison with an additional three years of supervised release.
Under federal regulations, Hammond is required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for release. Upon completion of his prison term, he will be under supervision by the U.S. Probation Office for ten years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, along with Lesley Allison from the United States Postal Inspection Service's Pittsburgh Field Division announced this sentencing decision jointly.
The investigation leading to these charges was conducted by USPIS and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Spievack.
