Federal Grand Jury Indicts 13 for Drug and Firearm Offenses Following a Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Led by the DEA and LMPD
Louisville, KY – Following a lengthy investigation by the Louisville Homeland Security Task Force lead by the DEA and LMPD, a federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on May 20, 2026, charging 13 individuals with conspiring to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and firearms offenses. Ten of the defendants have been arrested, one is deceased, and two are at large.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul L. Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Shane Andres, 48, of Louisville, Kentucky, Michael Andres, 52, of Louisville, Kentucky, Luther Roland, 49, of Louisville, Kentucky, Clarence Caldwell, 62, of Louisville, Kentucky, John Finley,32, of Louisville, Kentucky, Marcus Andrews, 50, of Detroit, Michigan, Stacey McRae, 36, of Louisville, Kentucky, Jorge Torres Valdez, 27,of New York, New York and Mexico, Ronnall Clark, 44, of Louisville, Kentucky, Keshawn Hatcher, 34, of Louisville, Kentucky, Cornelius Pendleton, 44, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Fineiss Vaughn, 21, of Phoenix, Arizona, were all charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing heroin from January 24, 2023, through May 20, 2026, in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
Additionally, Shane Andres was charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl; Michael Andres was charged with six counts of distribution of fentanyl; Luther Roland was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and three counts of distribution of fentanyl; Clarence Caldwell was charged with two counts of distribution of fentanyl; John Finley was charged with three counts of distribution of fentanyl; Marcus Andrews was charged with three counts of distribution of heroin; Stacy McRae was charged with three counts of distribution of fentanyl; Keshawn Hatcher was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and Cornelius Pendleton was charged with one count of possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm with the knowledge he had previously been convicted of a felony, specifically:
On or about November 15, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 19-CR-2810, Cornelius Pendleton, was convicted of the offense of convicted felon in possession of a firearm;
On or about March 1, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 18-CR-0638, Cornelius Pendleton, was convicted of the offenses of convicted felon in possession of a handgun, tampering with physical evidence and receiving stolen property (firearm);
On or about May 8, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 15-CR-3350, Cornelius Pendleton, was convicted of the offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree, convicted felon in possession of a handgun and receiving stolen property (firearm);
On or about July 20, 2005, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 04-CR-2842, Cornelius Pendleton, was convicted of the offense of burglary third degree;
On or about July 20, 2005, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 04-CR-0590, Cornelius Pendleton, was convicted of the offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree, promoting contraband and tampering with physical evidence.
On August 12, 2026, six of the thirteen defendants made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Michael Andres, Jorge Torres Valdez, Cornelius Pendleton and Marcus Andrews will make their initial appearances at a later date. Donshaun Coleman is deceased. Stacey McRae and Fineiss Vaughn remain at large.
If convicted, Cornelius Pendleton faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. If convicted, Shane Andres, Michael Andres, Luther Roland, Clarence Caldwell, John Finley, Marcus Andrews, Stacey McRae, Jorge Torres Valdez, Ronnall Clark, Keshawn Hatcher, Cornelius Pendleton and Fineiss Vaughn face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “The Louisville Homeland Security Task Force is a national model for interagency cooperation and productivity. Agents from multiple federal agencies working seamlessly with the Louisville Metro Police Department are constantly working long-term investigations against significant drug trafficking organizations for the betterment of our community. It is truly an honor to announce this important indictment and commend the success of our law enforcement partners.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott stated, “The DEA, alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, remains committed to pursuing those who profit from trafficking dangerous drugs while fueling violence in our communities. By bringing the full resources of the federal government to bear against career criminals, we are sending a clear message to those who peddle poison on our streets: your days are numbered.”
LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey stated, "This investigation is another example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement work together with a shared commitment to protecting our community. I want to thank every investigator who spent countless hours on this case to make our neighborhoods safer."
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the DEA and LMPD with assistance by IRS Criminal Investigation, St. Matthews Police Department, Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office, Office of the Kentucky Attorney General, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Porter and Frank E. Dahl III are prosecuting the case with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Adela Alic.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Louisville comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, and IRS, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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