Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Cherosco Brewer, age 35, of Louisville, Kentucky, was found guilty on Thursday in United States District Court following a four day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman.

The jury convicted Brewer on all counts of a federal indictment which charged the following: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Brewer faces 30 years to life in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

“There is no daylight between federal, state, and local law enforcement to remove the most violent offenders from the streets of our city,” stated U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “We are committed to continuing to work together towards a safer Louisville in 2019.”

According to the evidence presented at trial, on November 11, 2015, Louisville Metro Police Department Detectives Tyler Holland and Holly Hogan initiated a traffic stop involving a 2013 Dodge Charger on suspicion of excessive window tint. The officers identified the driver as Brewer. During the stop, a narcotics detection dog alerted on the outside of the car. The officers then ran the dog through the passenger compartment of the car.  While inside the car, the dog alerted on the area around the steering column. During a search of the car, officers found several baggies of marijuana packaged for sale as well as a loaded Glock .40 caliber handgun wrapped in a cloth napkin and hidden under the steering column. When officers arrested Brewer, they recovered $920 in cash and seven cell phones which were in his possession. After his arrest on November 11, 2015, Brewer posted a cash bond and was released from state custody.

On November 12, 2015, LMPD Detective Chad Stewart conducted a traffic stop involving a 2010 Ford Taurus on suspicion of excessive window tint. Brewer was driving the car and told police it belonged to his wife. During the traffic stop, a narcotics dog alerted on the outside of the Taurus. When officers conducted a search of the car they recovered approximately fifteen individual bags of cocaine which were packaged for sale, wrapped in a cloth, and hidden behind the dash panel.  Officers also recovered $885 in cash and three cell phones from Brewer.

Brewer has five previous felony convictions in Jefferson County Circuit Court for trafficking cocaine, flagrant non-support, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and receiving stolen property over $300.

The conviction of Brewer on Thursday follows the 2018 conviction of Jamar Garrison on gun and drug charges. Garrison, who is also a previously convicted felon and a habitual drug dealer with a history of gang violence, was also arrested by LMPD officers after a traffic stop. Garrison is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court later this month.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin McKenzie and Corinne Keel and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) with assistance from the Louisville Metro Intelligence Task Force (LMINTEL). 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Kentucky.  A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone

####