Boone County Man Sentenced for Armed Cocaine Trafficking

COVINGTON, Ky. – A Florence, Ky., man, Osvaldo Pardo, 33, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 144 months in prison, for possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to his plea agreement, in February 2025, law enforcement used a confidential source to conduct controlled purchases of cocaine from Pardo, who was known to be selling drugs out of a motel in Florence. Later that month, law enforcement searched Pardo’s motel room and found 807.4 grams of cocaine and $1,440. In addition to the cocaine and cash, officers found 2,973 grams of marijuana, a pistol, digital scale, and a money counter. Pardo admitted to possessing these items, including the cocaine and the firearm, and he further admitted that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activity.

Under federal law, Pardo must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.

Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division; and Chief Jeff Mallery, Florence Police Department, jointly announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Florence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

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