News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 9, 2012
Contact: Rich Isaacson
Number: (313) 234-4310

Guilty: Oxycodone Resulted In Overdose Death
—Judy McIntosh of Breathitt County, Kentucky Illegally Distributing Drugs—

April 9 (London, KY)— A woman from Breathitt County, Kentucky, who admitted her role in the prescription drug overdose death of a woman will face at least 20 years in federal prison when she is sentenced in July.

Judy McIntosh, 47, pled guilty March 28 to distribution of Oxycodone that resulted in death. She also pled guilty to a conspiracy charge.

This case marks the first prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Kentucky charging a person with causing a death by distributing prescription medications. The Eastern District of Kentucky consists of 67 counties stretching from the Tennessee border to the Ohio border.

According to the plea agreement, on October 2, 2010, a woman received a quantity of Oxycodone pills from McIntosh, consumed the pills, and later died at McIntosh’s home. The medical examiner’s report confirmed the cause of death was from an Oxycodone overdose.

“Federal law provides that anyone who illegally distributes drugs, the use of which results in death or serious bodily injury shall receive a prison sentence of not less than 20 years and up to life,” said the Eastern District’s U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey. “We intend to use every tool at our disposal and punish those who illegally distribute prescription drugs. This case should serve as a warning to those seeking to profit from illegally distributing these powerful drugs.”

McIntosh also admitted that between August 2010 and June 2011, she conspired with others to distribute Oxycodone in Lee and Breathitt Counties.

Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Robert L. Corso, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Karen Kelley, President of Operation UNITE jointly made the announcement.

The investigation was conducted by DEA and Operation UNITE. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Jason D. Parman.

McIntosh will appear in Federal court in London, Kentucky, for sentencing on July 25, 2012. The maximum penalty for the offense is life in prison. The court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the Federal statute governing the imposition of sentences before issuing a sentence.

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