Clay County Man Found with More than 5 Pounds of Methamphetamine Sentenced to 16 Years

LONDON, Ky.— Richard Walker, 33, of Manchester, Ky., was sentenced Tuesday to 16 years in federal prison, by United States District Court Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. 

Walker pleaded guilty to the charges in February of 2017.  During his guilty plea, Walker admitted that he had regularly obtained kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and sold it in Laurel County and Clay County, Kentucky.  These charges were related to the seizure of more than five pounds of methamphetamine from Walker, in May of 2016.  

Under federal law, Walker must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence, and, upon release, will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for 10 years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Stuart Lowrey, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Chris Fultz, Manchester Police Chief, jointly made the announcement.  The United States Marshals Service and the Kentucky State Police also assisted in the investigation.  The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew H. Trimble.