Federal grand jury in Louisville returns 5 indictments charging 37 defendants with drug trafficking and firearms offenses

Date: Aug. 20, 2024

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Louisville, KY - On Aug. 6, 2024, a federal grand jury in Louisville charged a total of 37 defendants from across Kentucky and California in five separate indictments involving methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine trafficking offenses and firearms offenses. The indictments were the result of a lengthy investigation conducted as part of the Organized Crime and Drug and Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Cincinnati Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), Special Agent in Charge Sheila G. Lyons of the DEA Chicago Field Division, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon of the DEA Indianapolis District Office, and Chief Art Ealum of the Owensboro Police Department made the announcement.

According to the first indictment, 14 defendants are all charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances. Beginning as early as March 2023 and continuing through Aug. 5, 2024, the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. The defendants charged in the first indictment are:

• D'Andre Williams, of Adelanto, California,
• Djuan Truss, of Louisville,
• Rayshawn Spearman Sr., of Louisville,
• Elmondo Elliott, of Los Angeles, California,
• Desmond Knox, of Menifree, California,
• Rayshawn Spearman Jr., of Louisville,
• Brandan Arnold, of Louisville,
• Antonio Arnold, of Louisville,
• Dwayne Evans, of Louisville,
• Melanie Surrell, of Louisville,
• Antionio Evans, of Louisville,
• Davonte Hoskins, of Louisville,
• Gardner Webb, of Louisville, and
• Tanaja Lee, of Louisville.

Williams, Truss, Spearman Sr., and Elliott are also each charged with possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture and possession with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. According to a federal criminal complaint filed in relation to these charges on July 7, 2024, members of the DEA Evansville Resident Office and Louisville Division Office received information from a confidential source regarding the possible distribution of large quantities of crystal methamphetamine and cocaine. Through follow up investigation, members of the surveillance team observed a transaction between Williams and Truss at a Love's gas station in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. According to the complaint affidavit, members of the Kentucky State Police made contact with Williams and Truss and conducted further investigation. Law enforcement ultimately seized cardboard boxes containing approximately 252.9 pounds of methamphetamine and 12 kilograms of cocaine.

According to the second indictment, 8 defendants are all charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Beginning as early as March 2023 and continuing through Aug. 5, 2024, the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The defendants charged in the second indictment are:

• Richard Boarman, of Owensboro, Kentucky,
• Joshua Estap, of Owensboro, Kentucky,
• Justin Riley, of Owensboro, Kentucky,
• Bobby Douglas, of Lexington, Kentucky,
• Jamie Voyles, of Owensboro, Kentucky,
• Gregory Nuckols, of Owensboro, Kentucky,
• Zachariah Nance, of Utica, Kentucky, and
• Hope Warsinsky, of Owensboro, Kentucky.

According to the third indictment, 3 defendants are all charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Beginning as early as March 2023 and continuing through Aug. 5, 2024, the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The defendants charged in the third indictment are:

• Cameron Jackson, of Owensboro, Kentucky,
• Damone McGuire, of Owensboro, Kentucky, and
• Tyler Vinson, of Owensboro, Kentucky.

Jackson is also with one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to the indictment, on May 1, 2024, Jackson possessed a Trail Blazer Arms .22 caliber pistol, a Taurus 9-millimeter pistol, a Zastava Arms .762 caliber pistol, and ammunition. Jackson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

On Dec. 16, 2019, in Daviess Circuit Court, Daviess County, Kentucky, Jackson was convicted of manslaughter in the second degree, receiving a stolen firearm, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense (methamphetamine).

According to the fourth indictment, 8 defendants are all charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Beginning as early as March 2023 and continuing through Aug. 5, 2024, the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The defendants charged in the fourth indictment are:

• Jason Salyer, of Louisville,
• Julia Parrish, of Owensboro, Kentucky,
• Jonathan Hawkins, of Owensboro, Kentucky,
• Jeramey Hawkins, of Owensboro, Kentucky,
• Timothy Roach, of Owensboro, Kentucky,
• Charles Nelson, of Utica, Kentucky, and
• Joe Turner, of Owensboro, Kentucky.

According to the fifth indictment, 4 defendants are all charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Beginning as early as May 2023 and continuing through Aug. 5, 2024, the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The defendants charged in the fifth indictment are:

• Diana Miranda, of Owensboro, Kentucky,
• Deandre Williams, of Louisville,
• Timothy Roberts, of Owensboro, Kentucky, and
• Shalonna Slaughters, of Owensboro, Kentucky.

Thirty-one of the 37 defendants have been arrested or are otherwise in custody. Twenty-six defendants have made their initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky or the Central District of California. Six defendants, Jackson, Williams, Truss, Jeramey Hawkins, Hoskins, and Bermudez are currently in state custody and will make an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at a future date.

The following defendants have not yet been arrested: Brandan Arnold, Webb, Lee, and Williams.

If convicted, each of the defendants except Jackson face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Jackson faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. All the defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

There is no parole in the federal system.

The cases are being investigated by the IRS-CI, DEA, and the Owensboro Police Department, with assistance from the FBI, the Kentucky State Police, the Indiana State Police, the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Evansville Police Department, the DEA Evansville Resident Office River City Drug Task Force - Indiana HIDTA, and the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Dahl and Josh Porter are prosecuting the cases.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multiagency approach.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code, obtaining a more than a 90 percent federal conviction rate. The agency has 20 field offices located across the U.S. and 12 attaché posts abroad.

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