London, Ky. — Joe Barlow Owens, 44, a methamphetamine kingpin from Blacksburg, South Carolina, was handed a 240-month federal prison sentence on Wednesday for his role in an armed trafficking scheme that authorities say spanned across Kentucky.
Owens, now serving time for possession with intent to distribute meth and possessing a firearm during drug trafficking, admitted to his crimes during a guilty plea on February 25, 2019. According to court documents, law enforcement discovered over 700 grams of the drug, cash, and a loaded firearm in his vehicle, which he admitted was for protection.
In March 2020, Owens pleaded guilty, acknowledging his prior felony conviction for meth distribution. Under federal sentencing guidelines, he must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being released under U.S. Probation supervision for an additional 10 years.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jeffrey Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Louisville Field Division; and Knox County Sheriff Mike Smith announced the sentence. The investigation was a joint effort between DEA agents and local law enforcement, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Trimble representing the United States.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s ‘Project Safe Neighborhoods’ Program, which targets violent crime reduction, and Project Guardian, aimed at curbing gun violence and enforcing firearms laws. The 2020 sentencing comes amidst the 150th anniversary of the DOJ, celebrating its history and commitment to public safety.
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Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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