Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Louisville, KY – On February 19, 2025, a federal grand jury in Louisville charged 13 Kentucky residents in six indictments involving methamphetamine and firearms offenses.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the first indictment, Johnathan Hankins, 34, and Tremell Smith, 33, both of Louisville, are each charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine between March 11, 2024, and May 22, 2024.
According to the second indictment, Shawn Beason, 35, of Louisville, and Justin Cummins, 28, and William Willis, 54, both of Mount Vernon, Kentucky, are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on April 5, 2024.
According to the third indictment, Ejai Shanklin, 22, of Louisville, is charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime between April 6, 2024, and June 6, 2024. Daryl Horton, 22, of Louisville, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on May 20, 2024.
According to the fourth indictment, Jeffrey Bradley, 33, Britney Calloway, 39, and Curtis Wright, 66, all of Louisville, and Jeffrey Holder, 49, of Ferguson, Kentucky, are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Beginning as early as June 26, 2024, and continuing through August 7, 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Bradley is also charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Calloway and Wright are also each charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Holder is also charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On June 26, 2024, Holder possessed an Inter Ordnance, Hellcat, .38 caliber handgun, an Imperial Metal Products, Model IMP .22 caliber revolver, and a Remington Arms Company, Model 1100, 12-gauge shotgun. Holder was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On March 19, 2008, in Powell Circuit Court, Holder was convicted of flagrant nonsupport.
On March 19, 2008, in Powell Circuit Court, Holder was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree.
On September 8, 2014, in Powell Circuit Court, Holder was convicted of theft by unlawful taking.
On September 8, 2014, in Powell Circuit Court, Holder was convicted of theft by unlawful taking.
On December 17, 2014, in Powell Circuit Court, Holder was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree (two counts).
On May 20, 2016, in Powell Circuit Court, Holder was convicted of flagrant nonsupport.
On March 29, 2017, in Pulaski Circuit Court, Holder was convicted of flagrant nonsupport and bail jumping in the first degree.
On November 27, 2019, in Pulaski Circuit Court, Holder was convicted of fleeing or evading police in the first degree, wanton endangerment in the first degree, trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree, and possession of a controlled substance in the first degree.
On January 7, 2021, in Pulaski Circuit Court, Holder was convicted of fleeing or evading police in the first degree (two counts) and wanton endangerment in the first degree.
According to the fifth indictment, Honesty Davis, 35, of Louisville, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on August 26, 2024.
According to the sixth indictment, Jaquan Tooley, 28, of Louisville, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on September 13, 2024.
Eight of the 13 defendants have been arrested and made their initial court appearances this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. One defendant will make his initial appearance on March 3, 2024. Ejai Shanklin, Daryl Horton, Jeffrey Holder, and William Willis are in state custody and will make initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at a later date.
If convicted, the defendants each face minimum sentences ranging from 10 to 25 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 ATF, DEA, HSI, IRS-CI, KSP, and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erwin Roberts is 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, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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