Federal Jury Convicts Lexington Man of Drug Trafficking Conspiracy, Money Laundering, and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington man, Rollie Deshawn Lamar, 30, has been convicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Frankfort, of one count of conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, money laundering, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and distribution of marijuana.  

According to evidence presented at trial, beginning in late 2021, law enforcement began an investigation of Lamar and others.  The investigation revealed that an individual working for Lamar traveled to Detroit, once or twice a week, and brought back approximately 50 pounds of high-quality marijuana on each trip.  Lamar sold this marijuana, by the pound, in the Lexington area.  In March 2022, the Kentucky State Police joined the investigation and made at least one vehicle stop yielding a large quantity of high-quality marijuana.

On April 6, 2022, a search warrant was executed at Lamar’s residence, where law enforcement seized over $1.86 million in drug proceeds, four expensive vehicles that were drug proceeds, several firearms, and approximately $220,00 in jewelry that was drug proceeds.  That same day, law enforcement stopped another vehicle, which led to the seizure of approximately $27,000 in additional drug proceeds.  Yet another vehicle stop occurred after Lamar had been indicted, which produced an additional seizure of approximately $11,000 in drug proceeds and $10,000 in jewelry purchased with drug proceeds. 

The total value of items seized by law enforcement is more than $2 million.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Detroit Field Division; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department; and Chief Dustin Bowman, Frankfort Police Department, jointly announced the verdict.

The case was investigated by the DEA, ATF, KSP, Lexington Police Department, and Frankfort Police Department.

Lamar is scheduled to appear for sentencing on June 24.  He faces a minimum of 15 years in prison.  However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing its sentence. 

The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West.   

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