Western District of Kentucky Men Sentenced for Murder Through the Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence

Bowling Green, KY - Freddy Manuel Gonzalez and Xavior Caine Posey were sentenced this week to 40 years and 35 years, respectively, for murder through the use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement.

"I commend the ATF, the local law enforcement agencies who assisted in the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sewell and Weiser for their outstanding work during the investigation and prosecution of this case," stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. "As a result of the strong working relationships that exist between our law enforcement partners, these violent defendants will now spend decades in federal prison. The fight against violent crime is a top priority of this office and we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute it wherever it occurs."

"This senseless act of violence took a man from his family," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Morrow. "I commend ATF Bowling Green Field Office, our partners with the Franklin, KY Police Department, and the prosecution team for working tirelessly to bring these killers to justice. Our thoughts are with Mr. Russell's loved ones, and we hope this sentence brings some sense of closure to his family and that it sends a very clear message that ATF and our law enforcement partners will always seek justice for violent crimes in Kentucky."

According to court documents, Freddy Manuel Gonzalez, 40, of Bowling Green, Kentucky was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for murder through use of firearm during crime of violence. Xavior Caine Posey, 26, of Logan County, Kentucky, was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for the same offense.

On December 29 and 30, 2020, Gonzalez and Posey communicated by cell phone to arrange for the murder-for-hire of the victim. Gonzalez provided Posey with a firearm for the murder. On December 30, 2020, in Franklin, Kentucky, Posey shot the victim three times with that firearm and then returned to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Gonzalez later paid Posey for committing the murder.

In a related case, Andy Martin Schmucker, 37, of Beaver Dam, Kentucky, has pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to the crime of murder for hire, and is scheduled for sentencing on December 2, 2024.

There is no parole in the federal system.

The ATF and the Franklin Police Department investigated the case. The Warren County Sheriff's Office, the Logan County Sheriff's Office, the Muhlenberg County Sheriff's Office, the South- Central Kentucky Drug Task Force, the Warren County Drug Task Force, the Kentucky State Police, the Russellville Police Department, the Bowling Green Police Department, and the Simpson County Commonwealth Attorney's Office assisted in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Madison Sewell and David Weiser.

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