Louisville, KY – A network of drug traffickers and their associates are off the streets this week following the culmination of a federal case that exposed a significant operation dealing in methamphetamine, fentanyl, and illicit cash. Five men received sentences ranging from home detention to twelve years in prison, signaling a crackdown on narcotics activity in the Western District of Kentucky.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Michael A. Bennett, alongside federal and state law enforcement, announced the sentencing of the final defendant on May 8, 2024. The investigation, a collaborative effort involving the DEA Louisville Field Division, IRS Criminal Investigation, ATF Louisville Field Division, Kentucky State Police, and the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force, targeted a conspiracy that spanned drug distribution, financial crimes, and intimidation of potential witnesses.
Steven Edlin, 50, of Loretto, Kentucky, received a one-year prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, for the serious charge of retaliating against a witness. This sentence underscores the federal government’s commitment to protecting those who cooperate with law enforcement. Meanwhile, Chaz Hughes, 31, of Louisville, faced a decade behind bars, plus four years of supervised release, after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine and 40 grams of fentanyl, alongside two counts of money laundering and a conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Firearms violations also played a key role in the case. Bryson Sleet, 26, of Lebanon, Kentucky, was sentenced to five years and six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Court records reveal Sleet’s prior felony convictions in Taylor and Marion Circuit Courts – possession of cocaine, a controlled substance, and trafficking in cocaine/methamphetamine – disqualified him from owning a weapon. Joshua Salazar, 34, of Lebanon, Kentucky, received the harshest sentence of 12 years, plus four years of supervised release, facing similar charges: conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, six counts of money laundering, and illegal firearm possession due to prior convictions for trafficking cocaine in Marion and Nelson Circuit Courts.
The sentences weren’t uniformly severe. Curtis Cunningham, 27, of Lebanon, Kentucky, received six months of home detention and three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The disparity in sentencing reflects the varying degrees of involvement and criminal history among the defendants. It’s worth noting that, in the federal system, there is no parole – these sentences represent the full duration of the court-ordered punishment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Ansari prosecuted the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation, a multi-agency initiative aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations. OCDETF’s intelligence-driven approach focuses on disrupting the flow of illegal drugs and money, and this case serves as a prime example of its effectiveness. Further information on the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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