Hopkinsville Man Slams Down 138 Months for Meth Ring

A Hopkinsville, Ky., man, Veontae Leemond Lewis, 32, is headed to the slammer for a long time after being sentenced to 138 months in prison for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking ring.

According to court documents, Lewis was pulled over by law enforcement on September 4, 2023, for a routine traffic stop. When officers approached the vehicle, they smelled marijuana and asked Lewis to step out. What they found next was a haul of methamphetamine that would make even the most seasoned trafficker blush – approximately five pounds of the stuff, two marijuana cigarettes, and a cool $907 in cash.

Under federal law, Lewis will have to serve 85 percent of his prison sentence, which translates to a whopping 117 months. And when he finally gets out, he’ll have to deal with the U.S. Probation Office breathing down his neck for five long years.

The investigation that brought Lewis to justice was a joint effort between the DEA and the Erlanger Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow will be handling the prosecution on behalf of the United States.

U.S. District Judge David Bunning handed down the sentence in a Covington courtroom on Thursday. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, was on hand to announce the sentencing, along with other law enforcement officials.

“This sentence should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can peddle poison in our community,” said Shier. “We’re committed to taking down anyone who thinks they can profit off the backs of our citizens.”