Feds Charge Two In Connection To Bullitt County OD Death

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Two defendants have been charged by a federal grand jury for possession of heroin that caused the death of a Shepherdsville victim, announced United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman.

Aaron Shelton, 27, and Tajuan M. McDowell, a.k.a. Tawain McDowell, 18, have been charged in the indictment with possession of heroin with intent to distribute. Shelton faces an additional charge of conspiracy to distribute heroin – causing death.

“We will charge as little as one pill that results in overdose death,” stated U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman “And these federal charges carry a mandatory sentence of twenty years to life for those that peddle their poison in our Commonwealth. Is it worth it?”

According to a criminal complaint, the morning of February 2, 2019, Shepherdsville Police Department officers responded to a suspected fatal overdose where they found A.M., the victim, deceased along with suspected heroin. 

Subsequently, the Shepherdsville Police Department and LMPD’s 9^th Mobile Division coordinated and conducted a controlled purchase of heroin from Shelton. During the controlled purchase, McDowell attempted to dispose of three bindles of suspected heroin, and Shelton attempted to flee in a vehicle, when he struck an unmarked LMPD police vehicle.

Shelton was initially placed into state custody for Criminal Mischief 1^st for intentionally ramming a police vehicle. While taking Shelton into custody, Officers observed a bundle of currency in plain view in the driver’s floorboard of Shelton’s vehicle, in which Shelton was found to be the sole occupant; following a K-9 alert, a search of the car was conducted which revealed multiple phones and other evidence.

Both defendants appeared in federal court last week.  Shelton remains in federal custody.

Both counts in the indictment carry a term of imprisonment of no less than 20 years and no more than life, in addition to a term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lettricea Jefferson-Webb and Special Assistant United States Attorney Ebert Haegele, and is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Shepherdsville Police Department, Louisville Metro Police Department’s 9^th Mobile and Narcotics divisions.

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