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Department of Justice United States Attorney Candace G. Hill Contact: Dawn Masden |
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September 8, 2009
LOUISVILLE MAN ADMITS ROLE IN DRUG TRAFFICKING AND FIREARMS OFFENSES
– Admits possessing crack cocaine for distribution on two occasions, carrying a .40 caliber Glock semiautomatic pistol during a drug crime
LOUISVILLE, KY - Demetrick Boyd, age 33, of Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County, pled guilty to possessing cocaine base with the intent to distribute, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and with possessing a firearm after he had been convicted of a felony, 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.
Boyd admitted that on December 5, 2007, he and Shaleontyne Young, aided and abetted by one another, possessed with the intent to distribute and distributed approximately 13 grams of cocaine base, otherwise known as “crack”cocaine. Boyd also admitted that on January 9, 2008, he possessed approximately 53 grams of cocaine base with the intent to distribute it, and that he used and carried a .40 caliber Glock model 23 semiautomatic firearm during and in relation to the drug trafficking crime on January 9.
Finally, Boyd admitted that at the time he possessed the Glock semiautomatic pistol, he had been convicted of a felony offense. According to the Superseding Indictment, Boyd has two prior felony convictions from Jefferson County, Kentucky Circuit Court for trafficking in a controlled substance. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition. The street value of the crack cocaine involved in this case was $2,150.
The maximum potential penalties for are life imprisonment, a $12,500,000.00 fine, and supervised release for life; and the minimum potential penalties are 15 years’ imprisonment and supervised release for a period of 4 years.
Shaleontyne Young entered a plea of guilty to the charge against her in the Superseding Indictment on October 28, 2008 and is awaiting sentencing.
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.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas W. Dyke. The Louisville Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation in partnership with the Louisville Metro Police Department, as part of ATF’s ongoing commitment to reduce violent crime and other threats to public safety.
The plea was entered before James D. Moyer, Magistrate Judge, United States District Court, Louisville, Kentucky. Boyd is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Charles R. Simpson III, Judge, United States District Court on November 30, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., in Louisville, Kentucky.
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