Press Release
Four Lexington Men Sentenced for Heroin / Fentanyl and Gun Crimes
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Three Lexington men, Arian L. Brown, Marion L. Brown, III, and Steven D. Harvey, were sentenced for their involvement in separate heroin and fentanyl distribution crimes. A fourth Lexington man, Christopher D. Washington, was sentenced for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Each was formally sentenced by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, on Friday, January 12, 2018.
Arian L. Brown, 34, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and heroin.
Arian Brown previously admitted that, in August 2016, he possessed 57 grams of fentanyl and 67 grams of heroin that he intended to distribute. Arian Brown had also previously been convicted, in 2010, of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Arian Brown pleaded guilty to the heroin and fentanyl charges in September of 2017.
Marion L. Brown, III, 29, was sentenced to 40 years in prison and 4 years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and being a convicted felon in possession of firearms.
In April 2017, Marion Brown acknowledged selling a quantity of fentanyl that resulted in a non-fatal overdose. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Brown’s residence and discovered drug trafficking paraphernalia, two pistols, and a rifle. Marion Brown admitted that he had previously been convicted of trafficking in heroin. Marion Brown pleaded guilty in July 2017.
Steven D. Harvey, 33, was sentenced to over 18 years (220 months) in prison and 8 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. According to court records, in June 2017, Harvey was found in possession of 798 grams of heroin, which was intended for distribution. Harvey pleaded guilty in September 2017.
Christopher D. Washington, 23, was sentenced to 33 months in prison and 3 years supervised release for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Washington previously admitted that, in June 2017, while in the company of Steven D. Harvey, Washington unlawfully possessed a .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol. Washington pleaded guilty in September 2017.
Under federal law, each must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.
“Combatting the opiate and opioid epidemic and reducing the potential for violent crime, by removing firearms from convicted felons, are top priorities for the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “The sentences imposed should serve as a deterrent and send a strong message that such conduct is not tolerated in the Eastern District of Kentucky. I want to commend the investigative agencies involved in each of these cases. As a result of the hard work of dedicated law enforcement professionals, dangerous drugs were removed from our streets, firearms were seized from those who were illegally possessing them, and lives were potentially saved.”
United States Attorney Duncan and Darrell Christopher Evans, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville, jointly announced the sentences.
The investigations were conducted by the DEA Lexington Task Force and the Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Cynthia T. Rieker, in the Arian Brown case, and by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Todd Bradbury, in the Marion L. Brown, III, Steven D. Harvey, and Christopher Washington cases.
These cases were prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
Updated January 16, 2018
Topics
Drug Trafficking
Opioids
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Component