Madison County Man Sentenced for Distributing Fluorofentanyl

For Immediate Release

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Richmond, Ky., man, James A. Phelps, 42, was sentenced on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 220 months in prison, for distribution of fluorofentanyl.

According to his plea agreement, on December 6, 2022, Phelps sold a confidential informant an ounce of suspected heroin; and when the substance was tested, it was found to be 27.919 grams of a mixture containing fluorofentanyl.  Additionally, on two other occasions, November 16, 2022, and January 18, 2023, Phelps sold the confidential informant fluorofentanyl and other controlled substances.  Each of those sales involved approximately 28 grams of fluorofentanyl.  Phelps admitted to knowing that the substance that he distributed contained a controlled substance.

Phelps has previously been convicted of a felony drug offense, distribution of cocaine.  He was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in 2011.

Under federal law, Phelps 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 six years.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Louisville Field Division, jointly announce the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA, with the assistance of the AHIDTA.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James Chapman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

— END —

Top photo credit: Adobe Stock

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/pr/madison-county-man-sentenced-distributing-fluorofentanyl