Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

LONDON, Ky. — Donnie Garland, 52, of Corbin, Ky., was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in federal prison, by United States District Court Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, for distributing methamphetamine, possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture, possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes, and possessing a firearm following a felony criminal conviction. 

A federal jury convicted Garland of these charges, following a two-day trial, in August of 2017.  During the trial, video evidence revealed that Garland sold methamphetamine, on five different occasions, and that he possessed firearms or had armed guards stationed outside of his location, during some of these sales.  Evidence in the case also included a search of Garland’s residence, which uncovered more than 150 grams of methamphetamine, more than120 grams of marijuana, nearly 700 pills, and 11 firearms.  This conviction represents the sixth time Garland has been convicted of a drug trafficking offense, which qualified him as an Armed Career Criminal under Federal law. 

Garland must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for 8 years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Amy Hess, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Louisville Field Division; Richard Sanders, Kentucky State Police Commissioner; and Mike Smith, Knox County Sheriff, jointly made the announcement.  The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew H. Trimble.