During a 43-day lapse in federal government funding, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky continued to prosecute cases involving drug trafficking, violent crime, and illegal firearm possession. The office secured multiple sentencings across several counties in Kentucky and neighboring states.
On October 6, Bryan Anicasio-Miranda of Lexington was sentenced to 70 months for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Samuel Young from Reynoldsburg, Ohio received 37 months for similar charges. Khmari Smith of Lexington was sentenced to 324 months for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as firearms offenses. His co-defendants received sentences ranging from 84 to 200 months.
Jonathan Blevins of Corbin was sentenced on October 8 to 110 months for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine with three others who also received prison terms.
Other notable cases included Gary Wayne Isaacs of Burlington receiving 186 months on October 10 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Khalil Washington of Lexington getting a sentence of 240 months on October 14 for drug trafficking and firearms charges; and Jeffrey L. McDaniel of London being sentenced to 120 months for conspiracy related to methamphetamine distribution.
Further prosecutions involved John Robert Eckler (70 months), Matthew Martin (78 months), Ronald Dugger (88 months), Eric Watson (108 months), Jacque Harmon Jones (150 months), Quincy Taylor (360 months), Jaloni Andrews (144 months), Bridgett Vance (27 months), Floyd Jenkins (212 months), Shane Brock (97 months), and Charles Phillip Dozier (100 months). These individuals were convicted on various counts including drug distribution conspiracies, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances such as methamphetamine or fentanyl, illegal firearm possession, assaulting a federal officer, and related offenses.
The office highlighted these sentencings as examples of its ongoing work during the period when many federal operations were limited due to lack of appropriations.
