A Lexington man, Keith Lamont Stallworth, 41, has been sentenced to 65 years in federal prison following convictions for firearms offenses and drug trafficking. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell after Stallworth was found guilty of several firearms-related crimes and pleaded guilty to multiple drug charges.
In August 2025, a jury convicted Stallworth of carrying and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, possessing a machine gun in furtherance of that crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing a machine gun, and failing to register the machine gun. He also admitted to possessing with intent to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as using his residence for manufacturing and distributing controlled substances.
Testimony during the trial revealed that in August 2023, Stallworth was arrested while carrying a .57 caliber Palmetto Arms pistol loaded with high velocity rifle rounds and an extended magazine capable of holding 29 additional rounds. Authorities executing a search warrant at his downtown Lexington apartment discovered large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a 9mm handgun, and an illegally modified .40 caliber pistol equipped with a device known as a "Glock switch" that converted it into a fully automatic weapon classified as a machine gun under federal law.
Federal sentencing rules require Stallworth to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for release. After completing his prison term, he will be subject to supervision by the U.S. Probation Office for ten years.
The sentencing announcement was made by Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott from the DEA Louisville Field Division; John Nokes from ATF Louisville Field; Phillip J. Burnett Jr., Commissioner of Kentucky State Police; Chief Lawrence Weathers from the Lexington Police Department; Chief Michael Fleming from Nicholasville Police Department; and Sheriff Kevin Grimes from Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was investigated by agents from the DEA, ATF, Kentucky State Police (KSP), Lexington Police Department, Nicholasville Police Department, and Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker and retired Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
