A man from Dry Ridge, Kentucky, Rodney Ruggles, age 45, received a prison sentence of 120 months from Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning. The sentencing was due to his involvement in possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and oxycodone and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
On December 13, 2023, law enforcement stopped Ruggles for various driving violations. Upon consenting to a vehicle search, authorities discovered a firearm safe that contained five grams of methamphetamine, a small bag of marijuana, 3.5 oxycodone pills, numerous baggies typically used for drug distribution, and a pistol. Ruggles confessed to intending to distribute the methamphetamine and oxycodone and carrying the firearm to further his drug trafficking activities. He also disclosed that he had been distributing methamphetamine for several weeks prior to his arrest, sourcing approximately one ounce of methamphetamine every two days between November 2023 and December 2023.
Ruggles must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence under federal law. Following his imprisonment, he will remain under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA's Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Michael Helmig of the Boone County Sheriff's Office announced the sentence. The DEA and the Boone County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King prosecuting the case.