A Lexington man, Drequahn Smith, aged 19, received a sentence of 128 months in prison on Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Gregory VanTatenhove handed down the sentence for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The events leading to the sentencing began on June 24, 2024. Law enforcement officers from the FBI and the Lexington Police Department were conducting surveillance on an individual wanted on an arrest warrant. During this operation, Smith was seen with the wanted person and fled when approached by officers. In his attempt to escape, Smith discarded a handgun before being apprehended. A subsequent search revealed that Smith had 413 grams of pressed fentanyl pills in his backpack and at a residence linked to him. In his plea agreement, Smith admitted to possessing the fentanyl with intent to distribute it and carrying the firearm as part of his drug trafficking activities.
According to federal law, Smith is required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison term. Following his release, he will be under supervision by the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Acting Special Agent in Charge at the FBI's Louisville Field Office; and Chief Lawrence Weathers from the Lexington Police Department jointly announced this sentence.
The investigation was conducted by both the FBI and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
This case falls under "Project Safe Neighborhoods" (PSN), a program initiated by the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime across communities through comprehensive strategies involving investigation, prosecution, prevention, and reentry efforts. In Kentucky's Eastern District, Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey oversees PSN initiatives in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies at federal, state, and local levels.
