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Department of Justice United States Attorney Candace G. Hill Contact: Dawn Masden |
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September 22, 2009
LOUISVILLE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL METH, COCAINE, & MARIJUANA CONSPIRACY
LOUISVILLE, KY - Damon Lee Simpson, age 48, of Louisville, Kentucky, entered a guilty plea yesterday before United States District Judge Jennifer B. Coffman to conspiracy charges of possession with the intent distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and cultivating marijuana, United States Attorney Candace G. Hill, for the Western District of Kentucky, announced today.
Pursuant to his plea agreement, Simpson admitted that on February 11, 2009, in Meade County, Kentucky that he and his co-defendant and brother Roger Simpson engaged in a conspiracy to possess and distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine, and that they aided and abetted each other in the manufacturing of 100 or more marijuana plants. On February 11, 2009, Meade County Sheriffs ordered, by phone, 12 ounces of cocaine and 3 ounces of meth from the brothers. The calls were monitored and recorded. On the same date, both brothers arrived at the prearranged meeting location, bringing with them approximately 328 grams of cocaine and 92 grams of meth and $9,809 cash. Both brothers were immediately arrested, and following their arrests, both signed consent to search forms for their respective residences. At Roger’s residence, investigators recovered 204 marijuana plants, digital scales, and other paraphernalia consistent with the marajuana grow operation. At Damon’s residence, investigators recovered marijuana shake and drug residue. Based upon a receipt recovered from Damon's vehicle, law enforcement discovered a commercial storage unit used by the brothers in furtherance of their narcotics operation. A search of the unit recovered three kilogram cocaine presses, numerous plastic bags filled with meth and cocaine, digital scales, and $22,700 in cash. All of the seized drugs were tested by DEA and resulted in a total of 112 grams of actual methamphetamine, 204 marijuana plants, and 1,758 grams of cocaine. The total estimated street of the drugs seized is approximately $260,000.
Each defendant faces a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment, a combined fine of $16,000,000, and supervised release for a period of life, and the minimum potential penalties are not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and no less than 5 years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal judicial system.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mac Shannon. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Kentuckiana Criminal Interdiction Unit (KCIU), and the Meade County Sheriff’s Office.
Both Damon and Roger Simpson are scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer B. Coffman, on December 14, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., in Louisville, Kentucky.
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