A Pikeville, Kentucky man has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for drug trafficking and firearms possession. Samuel C. Atkins, aged 52, received the sentence from U.S. District Chief Judge Danny C. Reeves for his involvement in distributing fentanyl and fluorofentanyl, as well as possessing firearms illegally.
Court documents reveal that on January 3, 2023, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force found Atkins at a residence in Richmond while executing two state arrest warrants against him. During their search of the premises, authorities discovered sixteen firearms along with methamphetamine and fluorofentanyl in Atkins's bedroom. Despite having prior felony convictions, Atkins admitted to acquiring some of these weapons through his drug trafficking activities.
Following his arrest and detention at Madison County Detention Center, four inmates in Atkins's cell experienced non-fatal overdoses. A subsequent search led to the discovery of multiple baggies containing approximately two and a half ounces of fentanyl or fluorofentanyl concealed by Atkins. He confessed to smuggling these drugs into the detention center after his arrest and distributing them among fellow inmates.
Federal law mandates that Atkins serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for release. Upon completion of his prison term, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for eight years.
The sentencing was announced jointly 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; Jeremy Honaker, Acting U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Sheriff Mike Coyle from Madison County Sheriff's Office.
The investigation was carried out by the ATF alongside the U.S. Marshals Service and Madison County Sheriff's Office with Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos prosecuting on behalf of the United States.