Cincinnati Man Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances Resulting in Death

COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati man was convicted today by a federal jury in Covington for conspiring to distribute carfentanil in the Boone County Jail Work Camp resulting in death.

After slightly under three hours of deliberations following a five day trial, the jury convicted 41 year old Johnny L. Shelton of conspiracy to distribute carfentanil resulting in death.           

According to testimony at trial, Shelton led a conspiracy to smuggle carfentanil, an extremely powerful opioid, into the Boone County Jail Work Camp on or about October 15, 2016.  Evidence revealed that Timothy Marcum, a fellow inmate, consumed some of the carfentanil and died.  Jailers found Marcum’s deceased body in the work camp during the early morning hours of October 16, 2016.             

Shelton and others were indicted in March of 2017.  Two other members of the conspiracy, Chad Prodoehl and Gordon Wanser have been convicted in connection with this conspiracy.  Prodoehl was sentenced to 25 years in prison on May 29, 2018.  Wanser is still awaiting sentencing. 

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), jointly announced the conviction.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA and the Boone County Sheriff’s Department.  The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Bracke and Wade Napier.

Shelton will appear for sentencing on October 18, 2018.  He faces a term of life imprisonment due to prior felony drug trafficking convictions.  However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal statutes before imposing a sentence.