A Lexington man, Sam Connor Jr., 30, received a 180-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove for fentanyl trafficking and illegal firearm possession. The charges included possession with intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and firearm possession by a convicted felon.
Connor's plea agreement revealed that on April 27, 2023, law enforcement identified him as a potential fentanyl supplier in Fayette County. He had arranged the sale of 500 pills containing fentanyl. Upon contact, officers found a stolen firearm on Connor and he admitted to possessing drugs. Further search revealed pressed fentanyl pills on his person and an unloaded firearm along with digital scales in his vehicle.
Connor acknowledged possessing the firearm despite knowing his felony conviction for second-degree robbery in Fayette Circuit Court in 2015 prohibited such possession.
Under federal law, Connor is required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence. Post-release, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for eight years.
The sentencing was announced by Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; AJ Gibes, Acting Special Agent in Charge at ATF Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers of the Lexington Police Department.
The investigation was carried out by ATF and Lexington Police Department with Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime through comprehensive public safety strategies including crime investigation and prosecution alongside prevention and reentry efforts. In Eastern Kentucky, PSN efforts are coordinated by Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey with various law enforcement officials.