Lexington Drug Kingpin Gets 140-Month Sentence

LEXINGTON, Ky. — In a stunning blow against drug cartels, Tyzon Zavonne Edwards, 22, of Lexington, was meted out a 140-month federal prison sentence for his role in a fentanyl trafficking operation that put lives at risk.

The court’s decision came after Edwards, caught with over 90 grams of the deadly substance and a loaded pistol during a high-speed police chase, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and firearm possession in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers were conducting a routine traffic stop when they encountered Edwards as a passenger. The vehicle took off, leading to a wild pursuit that ended with Edwards on foot, hiding the contraband in a recycling bin. He was later caught after a brief foot chase.

‘Armed drug traffickers like Tyzon Edwards present a real danger to the community,’ said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. ‘We will continue to target those who profit from drugs and violence.’

In addition to his sentence, Edwards was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. His release from prison will be followed by five years of probation, as required under federal law.

The investigation into Edwards’ activities was led by the ATF and the Lexington Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco Villalobos representing the United States in court. The case is part of the Department of Justice’s ‘Project Safe Neighborhoods’ Program (PSN) and Project Guardian, both aimed at reducing violent crime.

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