A Boyd County resident, Terry Gannon, 52, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fentanyl trafficking and illegal firearm possession. Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning handed down the 120-month sentence in Ashland, Kentucky.
Authorities began investigating Gannon in February 2025 after receiving reports that he was distributing significant quantities of drugs from his home. On two occasions, law enforcement used a confidential informant to purchase a total of four grams of fentanyl from Gannon. Following these controlled buys, officers searched Gannon’s vehicle and residence, discovering nearly 90 grams of fentanyl, over a gram of methamphetamine, eight firearms with ammunition, drug paraphernalia including scales and baggies, a suspected drug ledger, and $11,049 in cash.
Gannon admitted he intended to distribute the seized drugs and acknowledged possessing firearms to support his drug trafficking activities. He had prior convictions for drug trafficking in Lawrence County, Ohio, which legally barred him from owning any firearms.
Federal sentencing rules require Gannon to serve at least 85 percent of his prison term before becoming eligible for release. After serving his sentence, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for four years.
Paul C. McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge at ATF Louisville Field Division; and Director Scott Hardcorn of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force jointly announced the outcome.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) alongside the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker prosecuted on behalf of the government.
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