Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Lexington Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Armed Methamphetamine Trafficking
FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Lexington man, John M. Hoskins, III, 33, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison on Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, for multiple counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Between May and July 2022, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled drug transactions with Hoskins using a confidential informant. Through these transactions, Hoskins sold a total of nearly 500 grams of methamphetamine and at least one firearm to the confidential informant. In addition, Hoskins was observed armed with another firearm during at least one of the drug transactions.
Hoskins pleaded guilty to the charges in June 2023.
Under federal law, Hoskins must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Phillip J. Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police (KSP), jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF, the KSP, and the Bluegrass Narcotics Task Force. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paco Villalobos.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
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