Laurance Newby, a 38-year-old man from Lexington, was sentenced on April 9 to 180 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove handed down the sentence.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the distribution of dangerous drugs such as fentanyl and the associated violence brought by armed traffickers.
According to Newby's plea agreement, between December 2024 and June 2025, he sold fentanyl to a confidential informant on three occasions. On June 25, 2025, police used a trained drug-detection dog that alerted them to Newby's car. When approached by officers, Newby fled but was apprehended shortly after. A search of his vehicle revealed a loaded Glock 26 handgun and nearly one kilogram of cocaine in a backpack, along with over 400 grams of fentanyl in the trunk. Newby admitted both his intent to distribute these drugs and possessing the firearm as part of his trafficking activities.
Federal law requires that Newby serve at least eighty-five percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for release. After serving his prison term, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge at the Drug Enforcement Administration's Louisville Field Division announced the sentencing decision. The investigation was conducted by DEA agents and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Walker.
This prosecution is part of an initiative under Executive Order 14159 known as Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), which aims to dismantle criminal cartels and transnational organizations operating within or affecting communities across America.
