LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) – Two men were sentenced in separate court cases for their roles in a large-scale conspiracy to distribute crystal meth on Monday.
According to the Department of Justice, both court cases involved substantial seizures of methamphetamine in the Lexington area.
William R. Hargis, 24, of Danville was sentenced to a total of 35 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 52.5 pounds of crystal meth, possessing firearms related to drug trafficking, and intent to engage in money laundering.
Hargis’ plea agreement revealed that in May 2021, police pulled Hargis over for a traffic stop where they found him possessing methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, a digital scale, plastic bags, and cash.
Upon further investigation, police determined that Hargis was a drug dealer operating in a Lexington office building. Law enforcement officials said they found more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine, four firearms, cocaine, and additional drug trafficking items.
In the second case, Deangelo D. Grant, 36, of Los Angeles, was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute crystal meth.
Grant’s plea agreement from August 2021 showed that Grant received a package that had been shipped from California to Lexington with around 48 pounds of crystal meth inside. He admitted to flying from California to Lexington to receive the package.
Grant was also stopped in his vehicle by the police where the methamphetamine was discovered.
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Deangelo Grant -
William Hargis
“As these two cases illustrate, the amount and purity of the methamphetamine we are seeing in Eastern Kentucky is remarkable,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Illegal methamphetamine trafficking has an immense impact on our communities, and often brings guns, violence, and other crime. We remain committed to prosecuting those who engage in this grave conduct, and we hope that sentences like these will serve as a warning to those who continue to engage in it.”
“Anyone who poisons our communities through the sale of illicit drugs must be stopped and brought to justice,” said J. Todd Scott, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. “I’m very proud of the work done by the men and women of DEA and our law enforcement counterparts in both of these cases.”
The investigations were conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Kentucky State Police, and the Lexington Police Department.
