LEXINGTON, KY — The U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Kentucky is reporting that a Lexington man, Keon Lamont Lee, 32, was sentenced on Friday to 480 months in federal prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for distribution of fentanyl resulting in an overdose death.
According to his guilty plea, in February of 2021, Lee illegally provided fentanyl to an individual identified as F.E., who overdosed and died. Lee had obtained two bags of controlled substances from his dealer – one containing cocaine, the other fentanyl. Lee regularly sold cocaine to the victim. Intending to distribute cocaine, Lee instead distributed fentanyl to the victim, who used the drug, overdosed, and died. Text messages from both the victim’s and Lee’s phones confirmed these events, and Lee provided a full confession to law enforcement.
Lee pled guilty during his jury trial, in January 2023.
“This case illustrates the reasons why illicit drug trafficking remains such a threat to our community,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “It demonstrates just how dangerous fentanyl is – potentially lethal in the 2mg range – and highlights the common truth that drug users have no idea what they are buying. Whether by mistake, dangerous mixtures with other drugs, or counterfeit pills, users are often seeking one drug but receiving others, with grave results. Fortunately, this case can also illustrate that those who illegally traffic in these dangerous drugs face prosecution and real consequences for their conduct.”
Under federal law, Lee must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four 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 Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury.
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