Lexington Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Lexington man, Bryan Darnel Ragsdale, 37, was sentenced to 170 months in prison on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to his plea agreement, between August 6, 2023, and August 30, 2023, Ragsdale agreed with at least one other person, his co-defendant Myrtle Craig, to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Beginning on August 6, 2023, law enforcement arranged for a confidential informant to purchase methamphetamine and fentanyl from Ragsdale, on four different occasions. During the conspiracy, Ragsdale admitted to distributing 49.72 grams of actual methamphetamine, 157.395 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and 41.88 grams of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl. Separate from this conspiracy, Ragsdale also admitted to distributing 78 grams of methamphetamine and 54.6 grams of fentanyl.

Craig was previously sentenced to 74 months for her role in the conspiracy.

Under federal law, Ragsdale must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; and Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by DEA, FBI, and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Baker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

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