Officials announced Monday afternoon that on September 19, a federal grand jury returned a critical indictment — one charging several Hopkinsville residents of conspiring to distribute large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Those officials include Western District of Kentucky U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett, DEA Louisville Field Division Special Agent J. Todd Scott, Homeland Security Investigations Nashville Special Agent Rana Saoud, ATF Louisville Field Division Special Agent R. Shawn Morrow, Pittsburgh Division U.S. Postal Inspector Lesley Allison, and Hopkinsville Police Department Jason Newby.
Per the indictment, 54-year-old Jay Brown, 34-year-old Joseph Brown, 39-year-old Vanchaize Brown, 34-year-old Deerrica Finch, 43-year-old Jane Majors, and 41-year-old and Tapaulda Hancock have been charged with intent and the distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl, as well as 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Defendants recently made their initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, and if convicted, could each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and 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.
This case is being investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty and the Hopkinsville Police Department Special Investigations Unit, with assistance from the ATF Bowling Green Field Office, HSI, USPIS, the Kentucky State Police, the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, and the Madisonville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting this case.
Indictments are allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
