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Department of Justice Acting United States Attorney Candace G. Hill Contact: Dawn Masden |
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June 23, 2009
LOUISVILLE MAN SENTENCED FOR POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE COCAINE AND CRACK COCAINE
LOUISVILLE, KY - Michael Dawon Hughes, age 30, of Louisville, Kentucky was sentenced on June 22, 2009 to four years’ imprisonment to be followed by an additional four years’ supervised release for conspiracy charges relating to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, by United States District Judge Jennifer B. Coffman, Acting U.S. Attorney Candace G. Hill of the Western District of Kentucky and Paul Vido, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Louisville Field Division, jointly announced today. There is no parole in the federal judicial system.
Hughes was sentenced following his guilty plea relating to his involvement in cocaine and crack cocaine distribution. The defendant had previously admitted that on April 9, 2008, in the Western District of Kentucky, that he sold the co-defendant Timothy Barnett 12.785 g of crack cocaine in the parking lot of Southland Terrace Shopping Center. This sale was observed by officers of the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD). Following the sale, both individuals were arrested. Hughes was found to be in possession of 187.3 g of cocaine base, 1,207 g of cocaine, approximately $15,700 and 18 rounds of Magtech 9mm ammunition. The total street value of the drugs seized in this case is estimated at approximately $140,608. Hughes, at the time of his arrest, was a convicted felon based upon a conviction on June 28, 1999, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, under Indictment 96CR2620, for Robbery I, and on June 12 1998, in the Western District of Kentucky, under superseding Indictment 3:97-CR-4, for misprision of a conspiracy and attempt to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. A search warrant of Barnett’s residence was executed later the same day, which resulted in the recovery of a digital scale with cocaine residue and a loaded Bersa .380 caliber handgun.
This is a Project Backfire prosecution. Project Backfire is a cooperative effort by the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorneys Office, the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure that firearm offenses are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the state and federal law.
Timothy Barnett is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Coffman on July 20, 2009 at 10:00, in Louisville, Kentucky.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mac Shannon. The case was investigated by the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
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