LONDON, KY (March 5, 2020) - A Berea, Kentucky man, Gary Lester Metcalf, 31, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday, to 170 months in prison, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Wier, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Metcalf previously admitted that between March 2018 and February 2019, he conspired with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in Pulaski, Laurel, Rockcastle, and Madison Counties. Metcalf admitted that he arranged the delivery of the methamphetamine from a supplier in Nevada, to a dealer in Eastern Kentucky, using the United States Postal Service. Metcalf would then arrange the collection and delivery of the proceeds from the distribution back to the Nevada-based dealer.
A local co-defendant, Billie Jean Lunceford, 50, of Eubank, Ky., pleaded guilty in December 2019 and is scheduled for sentencing on May 26, 2020.
Under federal law, Metcalf must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Brett R. Pritts, Acting Special Agent in Charge for DEA, Louisville Field Division; Chief Travis Davis, Broadhead Police Department; Sheriff Paul Hayes, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department; and Sheriff Greg Speck, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, jointly made the announcement.
The investigation was directed by the DE, Madison County Drug Task Force, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, and Broadhead Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Trimble.
This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Robert Duncan Jr., coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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