Date: March 26, 2024 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov Louisville, KY — On March 5, 2024, a federal grand jury in Louisville charged 14 Louisville and California residents in three indictments involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin trafficking and firearms and money laundering offenses. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (CI), Cincinnati Field Office, Acting Special Agent in Charge Erek Davadowich of the Drug Enforcement Administration Louisville Division Office, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to the first indictment, Carl Delph of California, and Anyelle Curtley, Sr., Anyelle Curtley, Jr., Adrian Richie, Joseph Cousins, Alandro O’Neal, Jeroy Boyd, Ameer Ellis, Paul Butler, Jr., and Susan Jenkins, all of Louisville, are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Beginning as early as May 9, 2023, and continuing through Feb. 21, 2024, the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute and distributed over 50 grams of methamphetamine, over 400 grams of fentanyl, and over 500 grams of cocaine. Delph and Curtley, Sr. are also charged with a money laundering conspiracy. Delph is also charged with distributing over 500 grams of cocaine and distributing over 400 grams of fentanyl. Curtley, Sr. is also charged with distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, attempting to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. On Dec. 28, 2023, Curtley, Sr., possessed a Glock, model 27, .40 caliber handgun. Curtley, Sr. was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted the following felony offense. On May 19, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Curtley, Sr. was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Curtley, Jr. is also charged with distributing fentanyl and cocaine. Richie and Cousins are also charged with distributing fentanyl. O’Neal, Ellis, and Jenkins are also charged with distributing methamphetamine. Boyd is also charged with distributing cocaine. Butler, Jr. is also charged with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to the second indictment, Phillip King, Sr., 49, of California, and Norton Hazard, 55, of Louisville, are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Beginning as early as March 24, 2022, and continuing through Feb. 21, 2024, the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute and distributed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. According to the third indictment, Christopher Curtley and Antoyne Penick, both of Louisville, are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Beginning as early as Jan. 9, 2024, and continuing through Feb. 29, 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin. Christopher Curtley is also charged with distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Penick is also charged with distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. Penick is also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On Jan. 24, 2024, Penick possessed a Heritage Manufacturing Inc., Model Rough Rider, .22 caliber revolver. Penick was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On Sept. 27, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Penick was convicted of flagrant non-support. On Oct. 19, 2015, in Clark Circuit Court, Clark County, Indiana, Penick was convicted of theft. On Nov. 1, 2010, in Clark Superior Court, Clark County, Indiana, Penick was convicted of theft, robbery (two counts), and dealing in marijuana. All defendants except King, Sr. have been arrested and made their initial court appearances over the last two weeks before U.S. Magistrate Judges of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky and the Southern District of California. King, Sr. has not yet been arrested and is a wanted fugitive. If convicted, the defendants each face mandatory minimum sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years, and all face a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. The cases are being investigated by the CI, DEA, HSI, ATF, and the Louisville Metro Police Department, with assistance from the Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Dahl and Josh Porter are prosecuting the cases. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multiagency approach. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a more than a 90 percent federal conviction rate. The agency has 20 field offices located across the U.S. and 12 attaché posts abroad.
