Lexington Man Sentenced to 188 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Money Laundering

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Eric D. James, 32, of Lexington, was sentenced yesterday to 188 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and money laundering.  Reeves also ordered James to pay a fine of $2,000 and ordered the forfeiture of his interest in $586,369 in cash.

James previously admitted that, in early January 2017, he engaged in a conspiracy to obtain large quantities of cocaine from the southwest United States.  Shipments of these drugs were made by passenger vehicle, with the drugs concealed in various compartments within the vehicles.    The drugs were then transported to Lexington.   The proceeds from the distribution of these drugs were returned to the source.  On May 18, 2017, the Lexington Police stopped a vehicle carrying approximately 6 kilograms of cocaine.   On June 12, 2017, a search warrant was executed at the residence of James’ co-defendant, Ansar McIver.  Law enforcement seized a quantity of cocaine and approximately $586,369, which were proceeds from the drug distribution.        

James had previously been convicted of a drug trafficking felony, in Indiana, and Possession of Cocaine, in Kentucky.  James was on parole for drug trafficking at the time he committed these offenses.  James pleaded guilty in September 2018.

Under federal law, James must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for ten years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; James (Robert) Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; Richard Sanders, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, of Lexington Police Department, jointly made the announcement.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI (Lexington and San Diego), the Kentucky State Police, and the Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Roger W. West.