Kenton County Man Sentenced to 204 Months for Armed Methamphetamine Trafficking

COVINGTON, Ky. — An Erlanger, Ky., man, Johnathan Paul Hornsby, 32, was sentenced to 204 months in federal prison on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  

According to his guilty plea agreement, on September 30, 2022, Hornsby was stopped for a traffic violation and was arrested by law enforcement because of an active warrant. Law enforcement found a loaded handgun, 16.8 grams of methamphetamine, and over $500 in his pocket. Hornsby admitted that he intended to distribute some portion of methamphetamine to others and he possessed the firearm to protect himself, his drugs, and his drug proceeds from robbery.                                              

Hornsby pleaded guilty in May 2023.

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

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Tom Grau, Florence Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Florence Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke.

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