Date: May 15, 2023 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov Louisville, KY — The final members of a fifteen-person drug trafficking conspiracy were recently sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. Levontay Townes of Louisville, was sentenced on May 3, 2023, to 15 years in prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (two counts), possessing with the intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm by a convicted felon (two counts). Deonte Beason of Louisville, was previously sentenced on April 18, 2023, to 6 years and 5 months in prison, followed by a 4-year term of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin and possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Jean-Luc Henry of Louisville, was previously sentenced on April 18, 2023, to 5 years in prison, followed by a 4-year term of supervised release for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Co-conspirators Frank Trammell and Khalid Raheem, II, also of Louisville, were previously convicted following a jury trial. On February 28, 2023, Raheem was sentenced to 11 years in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, for distribution of fentanyl, and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. During the sentencing hearing, the court heard testimony concerning witness intimidation and applied an enhancement to Raheem's sentence for obstruction of justice. On March 1, 2023, Trammell was sentenced to 32 years and 3 months years in prison, followed by an 8-year term of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, for distribution of fentanyl, for possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On February 1, 2023, Destiney Rhodes of Louisville, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by a 4-year term of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, for distribution of fentanyl, for possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Also previously sentenced in this case were the following: On June 8, 2022, Kevin Henry of Louisville, was sentenced to 4 years in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin. On December 1, 2021, James Bivens of Louisville, was sentenced to time served and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin. Reginald Harris of Louisville, and Jason Logsdon of Elizabethtown, were each sentenced to 2 years of probation for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin. Harris was sentenced on November 30, 2021, and Logsdon was sentenced on February 1, 2023. K'lan Dunlap and Pierre Travis, both of Louisville, were each sentenced to time served for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin. Dunlap was sentenced on December 1, 2021, and Travis was sentenced on October 20, 2021. On September 2, 2022, Daryion Newsome of Louisville, was sentenced to 41 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin. On August 31, 2022, Kevone Evans of Louisville, was sentenced to 27 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin. On January 18, 2023, Ronnie Gadberry of Campbellsville, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin. There is no parole in the federal system. "This successful prosecution resulted from the outstanding work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and the strong working relationships that exist between the agencies," stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. "We all benefit from the combined effort of the agents, deputies, detectives, officers, and troopers who work to keep our communities safe." This case was investigated by the FBI, the ATF, and the Louisville Metro Police Department, with assistance from the DEA, the IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the St. Matthews Police Department, the Jeffersontown Police Department, the Shepherdsville Police Department, the Kentucky State Police, and the Indiana State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin McKenzie and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank E. Dahl, III prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
