Muhlenberg County Resident Convicted Of Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine

OWENSBORO, Ky. – United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. today announced the conviction of a Muhlenberg County, Kentucky resident, in United States District Court, on a single charge of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Kenneth Copley, 62, was taken into federal custody following the unanimous jury verdict reached in just 38 minutes, on April 12, 2017, before Chief Judge Joseph H McKinley Jr.

Evidence presented during the three-day trial included 800 grams of a substance, tested and identified as 100% pure methamphetamine. The controlled substance was seized during a traffic stop, and during a consent search by a Kentucky State Police trooper, on February 24, 2015 in Muhlenberg County. Methamphetamine was found in Copley’s vehicle and a subsequent search of Copley’s garage. While consent was given to search the residence and garage, detectives obtained a search warrant.

Copley was charged, in a single count federal indictment on March 9, 2016. Copley is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of no less than ten years in prison followed by a five year period of supervised release and could be fined up to $10,000,000. Sentencing is scheduled in Owensboro, before Judge McKinley, July 10, 2017, at 9:00 AM CT.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Larry Fentress and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Kentucky State Police, Hopkinsville Sheriff’s Department, and Madisonville Police Department.