28 arrested in Kentucky, Indiana narcotics investigation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Following a federal investigation, 28 people were arrested as part of a coordinated, multiagency enforcement operation that targeted members of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Louisville metro area.

The arrests, which involved the execution of 15 federal search warrants on Aug. 29, were led by the FBI’s Louisville field office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Louisville, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Cincinnati field office and the Louisville Metro Police Department following a months-long investigation.

The investigation, dubbed Operation Frozen River, is the result of ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force efforts, a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. In addition to the arrests, law enforcement personnel seized approximately 6 pounds of fentanyl, 35 pounds of methamphetamine, several pounds of marijuana, 30 firearms, one firearm suppressor, and $140,000 in U.S. currency.

The investigation involves 34 defendants charged with a variety of controlled substance and firearms violations under federal law and is being prosecuted by the Western District of Kentucky.

Those arrested include:

• Thomas Gunter, 39, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gunter is also charged with 10 counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Desmond Allen, 37, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Byron Mayes, 49, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• David Carter, 41, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, four counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Lauren Baum, 31, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Brandon Traughber, 41, of Georgetown, Indiana, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Jason Hill, 40, of Corydon, Indiana, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Adrian Hamilton, 51, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and two counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Antonio O’Neal, 47, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and five counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Randall Dilley, 49, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of distributing a fentanyl mixture, and three counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Keith Dewayne Settles, 51, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and three counts of distributing a fentanyl mixture.
• Coy Tucker, 32, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, six counts of distributing a fentanyl mixture, and one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Jaiquinton Wordlaw, 40, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Heather Boling, 25, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of distributing a fentanyl mixture, two counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Dontray Bard, 38, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Todd Allgood, 54, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and six counts of distributing a fentanyl mixture.
• Imani Tennyson, 21, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
• Dennis Rice, 44, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Tomerriel Macklin Jr., 23, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Damon Fortney, 44, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, six counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Dominique Kinnard, 33, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Curnesha Smith, 30, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and seven counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Derrik Goodman, 26, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Bruce Boerner, 56, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and four counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Dawn Burns, 55, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and five counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Kendall Shaw, 41, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Jaron Collier, 45, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Ryan Mitchem, 41, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Saentay Sheard, 46, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Stephen Piercy, 46, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Sean Underwood, 51, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Christopher Shanahan, 33, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Jason Cheser, 48, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Lacy Elliot, 35, of Louisville, charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Six of the defendants remain fugitives in this case.

If convicted, the defendants all face minimum sentences ranging from 10 to 35 years, and each faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Federal district court judges will determine their sentences after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. The charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.