United States Drug Enforcement Administration

PADUCAH, KY - United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, David J. Hale and U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Robert L. Corso, announced today that the first of seventeen defendants have entered into plea agreements with the United States Attorney’s Office for their role in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in Christian County, Kentucky.

On March 28, 2011, U.S. District Judge Thomas B. Russell sentenced Marvin Acree, Perry Redd and Rex Whitlock to 10 years in federal prison. In addition, Amanda Elaine Bush was sentenced to serve 20 years, Anthony Hester, was sentenced to 15 years, and Alvin Wayne Quarles and Donald Williams were sentenced to serve 12 ½ and 8 years respectively. Lartavious Banks and Corey Gray each were previously sentenced to 5 years in federal prison. The remaining defendants are expected to be sentenced on April 27th and 28th.

Three defendants from Christian County, Kentucky, were previously convicted for their role in this scheme on January 18, 2011, in Paducah, Kentucky. James Lamonte Dunbar and Rodney Edward Moore face a mandatory sentence of life behind bars without the possibility of parole, while Dwayne Michael Joseph faces a mandatory sentence of 20 years to life behind bars without the possibility of parole. According to evidence presented at trial, between June 2007, and June 2009, the total amount of crack cocaine distributed by this conspiracy was in excess of 100 kilograms.

Taking the lead in this nearly two year-long investigation was the DEA with assistance from the Western Kentucky Gun Crime Task Force. The task force includes investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and (ATF), the Hopkinsville Police Department, and the Christian County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Larry Fentress.