An Ashland man, Dennis Hall, has been sentenced to 130 months in prison for drug trafficking and firearms offenses. U.S. District Judge David Bunning handed down the sentence on Monday. Hall was convicted of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm to further drug trafficking.
The conviction stems from an incident on March 4, 2024, when law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle. Both the driver and passenger, Hall, had outstanding warrants. A search revealed 71.5 grams of methamphetamine between Hall’s legs and a loaded firearm next to him. Hall admitted to possessing the firearm for drug trafficking purposes.
Hall's criminal history includes a previous burglary conviction in Greenup Circuit Court in 2012. Under federal law, he is required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for release. Following his prison term, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
The sentencing was announced by Carlton S. Shier IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge at ATF's Louisville Field Division; and Chief William Todd Kelley of the Ashland Police Department.
The case was investigated by ATF and the Ashland Police Department with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker. It falls under the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime through coordinated efforts involving law enforcement and community resources.