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Department of Justice United States Attorney David L. Huber Contact: Sandy Focken |
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July 14, 2008
SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR METH RING SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS
– $25,716 in cash forfeited to the government
PADUCAH, KY - Timothy Binkley, a former resident of Marion (Crittenden County) Kentucky, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute multiple pounds of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney David L. Huber of the Western District of Kentucky announced today. Thomas B. Russell, Judge, United States District Court, also sentenced Binkley to 5 years supervised release following incarceration. There is no parole in the federal judicial system.
On August 14, 2007, a federal grand jury in Paducah returned an Indictment charging thirteen individuals with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine between the Fall of 2003 and the Summer of 2007 in Western Kentucky. Tim Binkley, who was the methamphetamine source of supply for the group, pleaded guilty on February 22, 2008. During his change of plea, Binkley admitted that in the Fall of 2003, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia and found a source of supply for methamphetamine. Over the course of time, Binkley then began supplying co-defendant Russell Hunt and others in Western Kentucky with methamphetamine. Binkley would purchase a pound of methamphetamine for $10,500 in Atlanta and would sell it for $22,000 in Western Kentucky. Binkley acknowledged that he was responsible for trafficking at least 5 kilograms but less than 15 kilograms (ten to thirty pounds) of methamphetamine in this case.
In May 2006, Binkley was arrested by the Paducah Police Department when he tried to claim a bag containing methamphetamine residue and approximately $22,000 in cash that had been left in a rental car at Enterprise Car Rentals. Paducah Police obtained a search warrant for Binkley's hotel room where they found additional money and drug paraphernalia. Co-defendant Baucum was arrested at that time. A search of Binkley's truck revealed a Keltee 9mm handgun bearing SN 125849 with 9mm ammunition and a small amount of Mexican currency. Binkley acknowledged during his change of plea that the money should be forfeited to the United States as drug proceeds.
The other co-defendants in this case were:
• Russell Hunt, age 47, of 1311 Dylan Circle, Henderson, Kentucky, in Henderson County, who was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months on July 9, 2008;
• Stanley Wade Hopkins, age 35, of 1700 Jackson School Road, Fredonia, Kentucky, in Caldwell County, who was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months on July 9, 2008;
• Kimberly Ann Cowsert, age 29, of 5557 U.S. Highway 60 West, Marion, Kentucky, in Crittenden County, who was sentenced to 9 years and 2 months on July 7, 2008;
• Randy Marcel Cowsert, age 37, of 6580 U.S. Highway 641 South, Marion, Kentucky, in Crittenden County, who was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months on July 9, 2008;
• Ollie Peek, age 53, of 610 Old Mexico Road, Fredonia, Kentucky, in Caldwell County, who was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months on July 9, 2008;
• Michael Elliot Towery, age 38, of 174 North Creswell, Marion, Kentucky, in Crittenden County, who was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months on July 9, 2008;
• Stephanie Beth Holloman, age 28, of 850 Lola Road, Salem, Kentucky, in Livingston County, who was sentenced to 6 years and 6 months on July 9, 2008;
• Thomas Ervin Dawes, age 46, of 39 Odom Road, Calvert City, Kentucky, in Marshall County, who was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months on July 9, 2008;
• Michael D. Loveless, age 36, of 1984 U.S. Highway 60 East, Salem, Kentucky, in Crittenden County, who was sentenced to 5 years 10 months on July 9, 2008; and
• Riley Marie Baucum, age 22, of 1150 Oaks Road, Paducah, Kentucky, in McCracken County, who was sentenced to 5 years on July 9, 2008.
Co-defendant Robert Andrew Topp will be sentenced on July 29, 2008. Co-defendant Troy Douglas Fox died on February 17, 2008.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michele L. Thielhorn, and it was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Kentucky State Police and Paducah Police Department.
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