LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keith Lamont Stallworth, 41, is facing a substantial prison sentence after a federal jury found him guilty Wednesday on a slew of firearms and drug charges. The conviction follows a three-day trial that laid bare a dangerous operation fueled by fentanyl, meth, and a blatant disregard for the law.
After just 40 minutes of deliberation, the jury convicted Stallworth of carrying and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; possessing a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possessing a firearm as a convicted felon; possessing a machine gun; and failing to register the illegal weapon. The evidence painted a clear picture: Stallworth wasn’t just dealing drugs, he was armed to the teeth.
The bust went down in August 2023, when authorities found Stallworth in possession of a .57 caliber Palmetto Arms pistol loaded with high-velocity rifle rounds and an extended 29-round magazine. A subsequent raid on his downtown Lexington apartment uncovered a veritable drug stash – large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine – alongside hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a 9mm handgun, and a modified .40 caliber pistol. That .40 caliber wasn’t just modified; it was transformed. Authorities identified a “switch,” or “Glock switch,” installed on the weapon, converting it into a fully automatic machine gun – a serious escalation of firepower.
This wasn’t Stallworth’s first dance with the law. He’d already pleaded guilty to separate charges including possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and using his apartment as a drug manufacturing and distribution hub. The current conviction adds a dangerous layer of firearms offenses to an already lengthy rap sheet.
The successful prosecution was a joint effort, announced by Acting United States Attorney Paul McCaffrey for the Eastern District of Kentucky, along with leaders from the DEA, ATF, Kentucky State Police, Lexington Police Department, Nicholasville Police Department, and Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation was a coordinated takedown, demonstrating a unified front against drug and gun violence in the region.
Stallworth is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1st. He faces a potential life sentence, and a mandatory minimum of 40 years behind bars. However, the final decision rests with the court, which will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and federal statutes before handing down the punishment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West is leading the prosecution, aiming to keep Stallworth off the streets for a very long time.
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Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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