Florence Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Meth Trafficking

COVINGTON, Ky. — A 26-year-old Florence man has admitted to trafficking methamphetamine with a loaded handgun at his side. Jeffery Pollard Jr. pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

The guilty plea, entered before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, stems from a traffic stop on January 30, 2020. Law enforcement officers observed a loaded handgun resting on top of a black bag inside the vehicle where Pollard was a passenger. Inside the bag: 21.84 grams of methamphetamine and a digital scale used to weigh and distribute the drug. Pollard admitted both the firearm and the narcotics were his.

Pollard was indicted in March 2020 and has since remained in federal custody. According to his plea agreement, he possessed the firearm to protect his drug operation — a key factor that elevates the charge and triggers a mandatory minimum sentence. The FBI and Covington Police Department conducted the investigation, highlighting the collaboration behind federal narcotics prosecutions.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; James Robert Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Louisville Field Office; and Covington Police Chief Robert Nader jointly announced the guilty plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Harris is prosecuting the case for the federal government.

Pollard is scheduled for sentencing on November 20. He faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. The final term will be determined by the court after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and federal statutes. No plea deal has been disclosed that would reduce his exposure.

This case falls under both Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian, two Department of Justice initiatives targeting violent crime and illegal gun use. PSN focuses on dismantling drug and violence networks through federal prosecution, while Project Guardian strengthens enforcement of federal firearms laws, especially in drug-related cases. The 150th anniversary of the DOJ marks a continued push to disrupt trafficking operations across Kentucky and beyond.

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