Date: May 9, 2024 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov This week the last of five defendants was sentenced in a case involving methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, money laundering, and retaliating against a witness. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, Acting Special Agent in Charge Erek Davodwich of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Ron Eckart of the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force made the announcement. According to court documents, Steven Edlin, of Loretto, Kentucky was sentenced on May 8, 2024, to 1 year in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for one count of retaliating against a witness. Chaz Hughes, of Louisville, Kentucky, was sentenced on April 18, 2024, to 10 years in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl, two counts of money laundering, and one count conspiracy to commit money laundering. Bryson Sleet, of Lebanon, Kentucky, was sentenced on April 18, 2024, to 5 years and 6 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Sleet was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On November 20, 2018, in Taylor Circuit Court, Sleet was convicted of possession of cocaine. On December 22, 2021, in Marion Circuit Court, Sleet, was convicted of possession of a controlled substance. On January 7, 2021, in Marion Circuit Court, Sleet was convicted of trafficking in cocaine and possession of methamphetamine. Curtis Cunningham, of Lebanon, Kentucky, was sentenced on February 14, 2024, to 6 months home detention, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Joshua Salazar, of Lebanon, Kentucky, was sentenced on February 8, 2024, to 12 years in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl, one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, six counts of money laundering, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Salazar was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On July 29, 2011, in Marion Circuit Court, Salazar was convicted of trafficking in cocaine. On August 19, 2016, in Nelson Circuit Court, Salazar, was convicted of trafficking in cocaine, felon in possession of a handgun, and felon in possession of a firearm. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the IRS, the DEA, the ATF, the KSP, and the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Ansari prosecuted the case. 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, multi-agency approach.
