Joint Investigation Leads to Federal Indictment for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking

Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on September 19, 2023, charging several Hopkinsville, Kentucky residents with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, and Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department made the announcement. 

According to the indictment, Jay Brown, 54, Joseph Brown, 34, Vanchaize Brown, 39, Deerrica Finch, 34, Jane Majors, 43, and Tapaulda Hancock, 41, all of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, were charged with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and distributing 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

The defendants recently made their initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, the defendants each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty and the Hopkinsville Police Department Special Investigations Unit, with assistance from the ATF Bowling Green Field Office, HSI, USPIS, the Kentucky State Police, the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, and the Madisonville Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting this case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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