A Lexington man known on the street as “Plug” or “Jug” has agreed to serve seven years in federal prison after admitting he was part of a fentanyl distribution conspiracy that fueled repeated drug sales across the city last spring.
Brian Conner pleaded guilty under a binding plea agreement to one count of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl, according to court records filed this week in U.S. District Court in Lexington. In exchange, federal prosecutors agreed to dismiss seven additional drug trafficking charges tied to fentanyl, methamphetamine and oxycodone sales.
If accepted by the judge, the deal locks in an 84-month prison sentence followed by at least four years of supervised release.
Court documents outline a months-long investigation that relied on confidential informants and recorded phone calls to arrange controlled buys from Conner between late March and May 2024. Investigators say those buys included multiple fentanyl transactions ranging from roughly 17 grams to more than 90 grams at a time, all conducted in Lexington.
The investigation culminated on May 21, 2024, when Lexington police executed a search warrant at a Bainbridge Drive residence linked to Conner. Inside, officers recovered nearly 28 grams of methamphetamine and 144 oxycodone pills, along with drug proceeds, according to the plea agreement.
Prosecutors said the total amount of fentanyl attributable to Conner exceeded 40 grams, triggering a mandatory minimum sentence of five years under federal law. The charge carried a potential maximum of 40 years in prison, but the binding agreement caps Conner’s sentence at seven years.
As part of the deal, Conner agreed to withdraw a pending motion challenging the search and seizure in the case and waived most of his rights to appeal or later challenge his conviction and sentence. He also consented to the forfeiture of property tied to the drug trafficking and agreed to provide a full financial disclosure to federal authorities.
Conner has been held in custody since his arrest last fall. A rearraignment hearing, where he is expected to formally enter the guilty plea in open court, is scheduled for Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew A. Stinnett. Final sentencing will be set at a later date if the plea agreement is accepted by U.S. District Judge Gregory F. VanTatenhove.
