Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty To Two Armed Robberies of Lexington Pharmacy

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Michael R. McReynolds Jr., 32, pleaded guilty on Friday, before Chief United States District Judge Danny Reeves, to Hobbs Act robbery and carrying and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to McReynolds’ plea agreement, on September 27, 2019, he robbed the  Hubbard & Curry Pharmacy located in Lexington. McReynolds, who was armed with an AK-style firearm, took oxycodone pills, other drugs, and approximately $300.  On October 21, 2019, McReynolds again robbed the pharmacy.  During the second robbery, McReynolds was again armed with an AK-style firearm, and he stole approximately 500 oxycodone pills.

Based on evidence collected, law enforcement officers identified McReynolds as the perpetrator of both robberies. Officers arrested McReynolds at his fiancée’s home on October 21, 2019, and located several of the prescription pills that were stolen during the pharmacy robberies.

As part of his plea agreement, McReynolds admitted to possessing and brandishing a firearm to help facilitate his robberies of the pharmacy.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of Police, Lexington Police Department jointly made the announcement.

McReynolds Jr. is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21, 2020. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the robbery convictions and a minimum of 10 years in prison, to run consecutively, for the firearm convictions. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after its consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal sentencing statutes.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The PSN program was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.