NEWS RELEASE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. on Tuesday announced the guilty pleas of a former Bullitt County, Kentucky, Sheriff’s Deputy, to charges of trafficking in marijuana and methamphetamine and concealing the financial proceeds (money laundering). Two co-defendants admitted to concealing the criminal activities from law enforcement during a 15 month period.
Those pleading guilty in United States District Court on November 16, 2016, before United States District Judge David J. Hale, include Christopher Mattingly, former Bullitt County, Kentucky, Sheriff’s Deputy and co-defendants Ronald A. Shewmaker and Eddie Whitfill, both of Bullitt County. The defendants remain on bond. Co-defendant James F. Howard is scheduled for trial before Judge Hale on December 12, in Louisville, while Hector Renato Orozco Landa and Raymond Carillo remain at large. All three are charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering.
In court, Mattingly admitted that between March 2014 and June 2015, he conspired with the other named defendants to knowingly and intentionally distributing more than 1000 kilograms but less than 3000 kilograms of marijuana imported from California and distributed in the Western District of Kentucky and elsewhere. At trial, the United States would prove these facts by introducing recordings of conversations between the defendant and a co-conspirator, and between the defendant and a reliable confidential informant, wherein the defendant makes statements probative of knowledge and intent to distribute large quantities of marijuana.
Additionally, Mattingly admitted that between March 2014 and June 2015, he conspired with the other named defendants to conduct financial transactions with monetary proceeds derived from trafficking in marijuana, by depositing some proceeds in the bank and by using other proceeds to pay for marijuana shipments. The United States would prove these facts by introducing the defendant’s bank records and eliciting testimony from a reliable confidential informant.
Finally, Mattingly admitted that between February 2015 and June 2015, he conspired with other persons to knowingly and intentionally distributing more than 500 grams but less than 1.5 kilograms of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The United States would prove these facts by eliciting testimony from unindicted co-conspirators and from a reliable confidential informant.
Defendants Whitfield and Shewmaker admitted to concealing their knowledge of Mattingly’s illegal activities from law enforcement between March 2014 and June 2015.
Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Hale on February 8, 2017, in Louisville.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Larry E. Fentress and is being investigated by DEA and the Bullitt County, Kentucky Sheriff’s Department.