Louisville Man Sentenced to Over 29 Years In Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy and Firearms Offense

Louisville, KY - A Louisville man was sentenced last week to a total of 29 years and 6 months in federal prison for numerous felony offenses, including conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphreys of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents, on November 14, 2024, Jerlen Horton, 30, was sentenced to 28 years in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over one kilogram of fentanyl, over 250 grams of heroin, and a mixture of cocaine base, commonly referred to as "crack cocaine," possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Horton was sentenced to an additional 1 year and 6 months in prison, to run consecutively with the 28-year sentence for a total of 29 years and 6 months, for violation of his supervised release.

Horton and his co-defendant, Chicoby Summers, were convicted following a seven-day jury trial in July of this year. Summers is scheduled for sentencing on December 10, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

There is no parole in the federal system.

The ATF and LMPD investigated the case, with assistance from the FBI, DEA, United States Postal Inspection Service, Kentucky State Police, Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Long Beach California Police Department, Verdigris Oklahoma Police Department, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Dahl and Josh Porter are prosecuting the case, with assistance from paralegal Adela Alic.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

###