Knott Co. Man Bags Four Life Sentences for Child Sex, Drug Smuggling

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — In a grim turn of justice, Freddie Kennedy, Jr., has been handed four consecutive life sentences for his heinous crimes of drug trafficking and the sexual exploitation of minors.

The federal judge Amul Thapar imposed the severe sentence on Wednesday, leaving Kennedy without hope of parole. The charges included one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone; seven counts of crossing state lines with intent to engage in a sex act with a minor under 12; and ten counts of transporting a minor across state lines for criminal sexual activity.

From April 2013 to June 2015, Kennedy orchestrated a drug conspiracy, obtaining prescription drugs from out-of-state clinics and distributing them locally. This operation resulted in the distribution of thousands of oxycodone pills.

But his crimes didn’t stop there. Starting around October 2013, he sexually abused four minors on multiple occasions. He preyed upon children whose parents were part of his drug conspiracy or who were addicts he supplied with oxycodone. Kennedy gained access to these victims by offering to watch them while their parents engaged in drug activities.

His manipulation was cunning; he bought expensive gifts, took them to the movies, and shopping to win their trust. The abuse occurred at his homes in Perry and Knott Counties as well as on out-of-state trips where Kennedy took the minors to stay overnight with him alone in hotel rooms.

The investigation into these monstrous acts was conducted by the DEA and Kentucky State Police, with Assistant U.S. Attorney W. Samuel Dotson leading the prosecution on behalf of the federal government. The sentence is a stark reminder that no child’s safety should be traded for drug profits.