Stephen Ushery, Jr., of Cincinnati, was sentenced Wednesday to 130 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Robert E. Wier, for conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. 

The conviction followed a two and a half year investigation that established Ushery as a drug supplier, who traveled from his home in Cincinnati to distribute multi-ounce quantities of heroin to several other local drug dealers in the Pulaski County area. In his plea agreement, Ushery admitted that between 2015 and 2018, he was responsible for distributing over one kilogram of heroin into the Eastern District of Kentucky. Ushery’s heroin distribution conspiracy ended in September of 2018, when law enforcement arrested him and raided the apartment he was using as his base of drug distribution in Somerset, finding nearly 50 grams of heroin and over $5,000 in drug proceeds. 

Several of Ushery’s co-conspirators have also been sentenced in connection with their heroin trafficking activities, including Chad Puchalski (sentenced to 180 months), Sonie Meatchem, Jr. (sentenced to 70 months), Diana Chiree Sullivan (47 months), Samantha Pointer (39 months), Kimberly Ann Sweeten (33 months), and Tyler Hargis (20 months). 

Under federal law, Ushery must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release. 

“Combatting the trafficking of dangerous drugs, particularly heroin, is a fundamental priority for our Office,” said United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “The defendant’s transportation and distribution of significant quantities of heroin adversely impacted the lives of many in the Pulaski County area. I commend the work of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in helping hold this defendant, and his co-defendants, accountable for their actions.” 

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Dan Dodds, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA, Sheriff Greg Speck, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, Chief Tony Duncan, Somerset Police Department, Director Wayne Conn, Lake 

Department of Justice Robert M. Duncan, Jr. United States Attorney Eastern District of Kentucky 

Cumberland Drug Task Force, Commissioner Richard Sanders, Kentucky State Police, and Chief Brian Carter, Mt. Vernon Police Department, collectively announced the sentence. 

The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, the Somerset Police Department, the Kentucky State Police, the Lake Cumberland Drug Task Force, and the Mount Vernon Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew H. Trimble.