A Lexington man, Eugene Laron Fishback, aged 32, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for drug trafficking offenses. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Chief Judge Danny C. Reeves.
Fishback was found guilty in June 2024 after a four-day trial and approximately 90 minutes of jury deliberation. He faced charges of conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 10 grams of carfentanil. Additionally, he was convicted on two counts each of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and carfentanil.
Testimony during the trial revealed that Fishback conspired with others between July 1, 2022, and December 7, 2023, to distribute these drugs. On October 11, 2023, Fishback and his girlfriend, Tedi Hawkins, were evicted from their apartment in Lexington. During this eviction process conducted by Fayette County Constables and members of the Lexington Police Department, authorities discovered plastic bags containing over 7,000 fentanyl tablets along with firearms and ammunition.
Following their eviction, Fishback and Hawkins moved to another apartment complex where they became subjects of an investigation by the DEA and Lexington Police Department. A federal search warrant executed at their new residence in December 2023 led to the seizure of more than 1,000 additional fentanyl tablets and some carfentanil. Fishback was later arrested in his vehicle with another cache of drugs.
During a recorded jail call after Hawkins entered a guilty plea, Fishback attempted to persuade her to withdraw her plea.
At the time of his federal indictment, Fishback had four pending state felony indictments in Fayette County and several prior felony convictions.
Federal law mandates that Fishback serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for release. Upon release, he will be under supervision by the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
The sentence announcement came from Carlton S. Shier IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott from the DEA Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett Jr., Commissioner of Kentucky State Police; and Chief Lawrence Weathers from the Lexington Police Department.
The investigation involved collaboration between the DEA, KSP, Lexington Police Department, and assistance from Fayette County Constable’s Office Third District. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger West and Brittany Baker are prosecuting the case for the United States.