Johnson County Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Charges

PIKEVILLE, Ky.- A Johnson County, Kentucky man admitted in federal court Friday that he conspired to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine.

Proctor Wayne Pennington, Sr., 65, pled guilty Friday to conspiring to distribute 500 grams of methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine, before U.S. District Court Judge Karen K. Caldwell.  

Pennington admitted that from October 2018 through April 3, 2019, he conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine. According to the plea agreement, Pennington obtained the methamphetamine from a supplier in Louisville, Kentucky, and then distributed the methamphetamine to others in Johnson County. Law enforcement seized methamphetamine from Pennington on April 3, 2019, and Pennington was indicted in April 2019.

“Methamphetamine is a highly addictive, dangerous drug that is ruining many lives in eastern Kentucky,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Our Office, along with our law enforcement partners, remain committed to holding methamphetamine traffickers accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to the plea agreement, Pennington has a previous federal drug felony conviction for conspiring to distribute oxycodone. Because of the prior serious drug felony conviction, Pennington is subject to an enhanced sentence.

“The defendant’s significant drug trafficking undoubtedly contributed to the increased availability of methamphetamine in the region,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “The defendant’s prior conviction for drug trafficking makes his conduct in this case even more serious. As a prior convicted drug trafficker, he is likely facing a more severe sentence for his crimes.”    

U.S. Attorney Duncan, Dan Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division, and Doug Saylor, Johnson County Sheriff, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by Drug Enforcement Administration and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew H. Trimble. 

Pennington is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2019. He faces a minimum of 15 years in prison, with a maximum of Life, as well as a maximum fine of $20 million. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. 

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