Two men, John Christopher Davis and Douglas DeAngelo Wade, were sentenced to 188 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning handed down the sentences on Friday. Davis was also convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, while Wade faced an additional conviction for distribution of cocaine.
Court documents reveal that from January 1, 2023, through January 26, 2024, Davis and Wade conspired with co-defendants Terry Mitchell, Michael Labordeaux, Stephen Russ, Gregory Soard, and others to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine in Kenton County and other locations. Wade led the operation by supplying cocaine and cocaine base to Davis and others.
Both defendants have previous drug trafficking convictions. Davis was convicted in 2003 and 2006 for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine) in Kenton County Circuit Court. He also faced a conviction in 2007 for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base in the Eastern District of Kentucky's U.S. District Court. Similarly, Wade had a prior conviction for distributing over 50 grams of cocaine base in the same district court.
Co-defendant Gregory Soard received a sentence of 96 months in January 2025. Stephen Russ was sentenced to 105 months in December 2024. Terry Mitchell is scheduled for sentencing on April 4, while Michael Labordeaux will be sentenced on May 9.
Federal law requires Davis and Wade to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences. After release, Davis will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for six years; Wade will face eight years under supervision.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury from the FBI's Louisville Field Office; and Covington Police Chief Brian Valenti announced the sentences jointly.
The investigation involved collaboration between the FBI and Covington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke is prosecuting this case.
