LEXINGTON, KY – Cary Lamar Wilkerson, Jr., 24, is facing two decades in federal prison after being sentenced Tuesday to 240 months for a cocktail of crimes including armed drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession. U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove handed down the sentence, effectively removing a dangerous player from the streets of Lexington.
The case began unraveling in June 2022, when Fayette County law enforcement attempted a routine traffic stop on Wilkerson. It quickly devolved into a high-speed pursuit, endangering other drivers. Wilkerson refused to yield, leading officers on a chase until his vehicle was disabled. Rather than surrender, he bolted on foot, ditching a Glock pistol and 17 grams of flurofentanyl in his wake. The Glock wasn’t just any handgun; it was equipped with an illegal “Glock switch,” converting it into a fully automatic machinegun.
Wilkerson’s brazen disregard for the law didn’t end there. Just three months later, in October 2022, Clark County deputies spotted Wilkerson speeding over 100 mph on I-64. Another pursuit ensued, this time with Wilkerson nearly colliding with other vehicles. After crashing into a utility pole, he again fled on foot, attempting to discard two bags of fentanyl and *another* firearm during the chase. A search of his wrecked vehicle revealed more narcotics, a stash of cash, and numerous empty plastic baggies – the tools of a seasoned drug dealer.
Wilkerson pleaded guilty in May 2023 to two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possession with intent to distribute a fentanyl mixture. His prior criminal history, including convictions for both robbery and drug trafficking, sealed his fate, disqualifying him from legally possessing a firearm. He’ll serve 85% of his 240-month sentence with an additional eight years of supervised release after that.
The sentencing was a joint announcement from U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV, ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers, and Clark County Sheriff Berl Perdue, Jr. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the ATF, Lexington Police, and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindy Rieker prosecuting the case. This bust is part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” program, a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime.
This case underscores the escalating dangers posed by fentanyl trafficking and the willingness of criminals to use firearms to protect their illicit operations. Wilkerson’s reckless behavior and repeated attempts to evade law enforcement demonstrate a clear pattern of disregard for public safety, and his lengthy sentence sends a message that such actions will not be tolerated in the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Related Federal Cases
- Tyrone D. Trumbo Jr., Alleged Drug Trafficking, Kentucky, 2023 · Kentucky
- Richard Alexander Murdaugh, Drug Trafficking, Charleston SC, 2023 · Alabama
- Petrica Octavian Stoian, Wire Fraud, Lexington KY, 2023 · Illinois
- Donte Booker, Cocaine Trafficking and Robbery, Cleveland OH, 2023 · Ohio
- Daniel J. Brown, Labor Trafficking, Ashland OH, 2023 · Ohio
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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