Lexington Man Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearm Possession in Federal Case
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Delvegio Christopher Lax, a 33-year-old Lexington resident, was arrested this week on federal charges related to drug trafficking and firearm possession, according to the criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. The complaint alleges that Lax was involved in the possession and intent to distribute controlled substances, as well as being a felon in possession of firearms.
According to the criminal complaint, federal authorities have been investigating Lax’s activities since October 2023. Investigators reportedly monitored social media posts linked to Lax that depicted him flaunting large sums of cash, expensive jewelry, and driving luxury vehicles. In one post, Lax allegedly displayed hundreds of thousands of dollars in vacuum-sealed plastic bags, alongside wads of cash bound by rubber bands.
The investigation came to a head on September 24, 2024, when law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lax’s residence on Tiburon Way in Lexington. The search uncovered over 800 grams of suspected cocaine, packaged in a manner consistent with distribution, according to the criminal complaint. Additionally, authorities discovered a Draco Pistol loaded with 7.62 caliber bullets inside the bedroom, along with a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol hidden in the engine compartment of a vehicle Lax had been operating.
The criminal complaint also details Lax’s alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking. According to federal agents, in June 2024, Lax attempted to recruit a known narcotics trafficker to sell drugs on his behalf. Furthermore, a surveillance operation revealed that cash was being transported to and from Lax’s residence by individuals in a black Mercedes van, which was later connected to a seizure of six kilograms of cocaine and over $100,000 in bulk cash during a search in Dayton, Ohio.
This is not Lax’s first encounter with the law. In 2018, Lax was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. At the time, Lax admitted to having a Taurus .45 caliber pistol during a conflict with his neighbors in Lexington. His prior felony convictions include two counts of possession of cocaine and facilitation to commit first-degree manslaughter in 2012.
Lax now faces charges under Title 21 of the United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and Title 18, Section 922(g)(1) for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Both charges carry significant penalties, including the possibility of lengthy prison sentences.
According to the criminal complaint, Lax admitted to possessing both the firearms and the narcotics found during the search.
If convicted, Lax could face substantial additional prison time, particularly given his previous felony convictions. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
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