News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2008
Contact: Rich Isaacson
Number: (313) 234-4310

Crack Cocaine Dealer Faces Mandatory Ten Year Sentence
-DEA and Hardin County Drug Task Force Worked Joint Case

SEPT 16 -- LOUISVILLE, KY - Ronald Melvin Johnson, age 31, of 4817 St. Leo Place, Louisville, Kentucky, pled guilty to charges of distributing "crack" cocaine, U.S. Attorney David L. Huber of the Western District of Kentucky announced today.

In a written plea agreement, Johnson admitted that on April 30, 2008, he sold approximately 11 grams of crack cocaine to an individual for $700 in the Cracker Barrel parking lot on Brooks Road in Bullitt County, Kentucky. Johnson also admitted that on May 20, 2008, he sold approximately 55 grams of crack cocaine to an individual for $2,300 at Second Street and Wellington in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The street value of the drugs likely is approximately $6,900, based upon a street value of approximately $100 per gram. U.S. Attorney Huber praised the Hardin County Drug Task Force for working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

In the event of a conviction, the maximum potential penalties are Life imprisonment, a $12,000,000 fine, and supervised release for a period of 10 years. The minimum penalty of imprisonment required by statute is 10 years.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr., and it was investigated by the DEA and the Hardin County Drug Task Force.

Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced before the United States District Judge Russell on January 20, 2008, at 12:15 p.m., in Louisville, Kentucky.