Multiple Defendants Sentenced this Week for Distribution of Cocaine and Possession of Illegal Firearms in U.S. District Court Located in Paducah, Kentucky

PADUCAH, Ky. — Jessie Haskins of Christian County, Kentucky, plead guilty to possession and distribution of cocaine in United States District Court before Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell on January 10, 2013. According to the plea agreement, on December 30, 2009 and January 2010 and February 11, 2012, Haskins was recorded selling cocaine to a confidential informant. The amounts sold were 2.371 grams, 2.35 grams and 2.985 grams. Two of the transactions took place at the defendant’s home. At sentencing Haskins faces a combined maximum sentence of 90 years in prison and a $3,000,000 fine. He is scheduled for sentencing on April 24, 2013 at 11:30am in U.S. District Court.

Torrino Edwards, of Paducah, Kentucky, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, on January 10, 2013, by Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell on January 10, 2103 for possession and distribution of crack cocaine. According to court records, Torrino admitted to selling and possessing crack cocaine on four separate occasions in November and December of 2010, and February of 2011. Sales were made in Paducah, Kentucky to a confidential informant. Edwards has two prior felony convictions in McCracken County Court.

Christopher Watkins, of Christian County, Kentucky, was sentenced to 100 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release, by Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell on January 10, 2013 for possession and distribution of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court records, Watkins admitted to selling crack cocaine in April and May of 2009. The crack cocaine was sold to a confidential informant. The amounts were 11.8 grams, 57.6 grams and 36.5 grams of crack cocaine. Further, Watkins admitted to being a felon in possession of a firearm and selling a Bryco Arms 9mm semiautomatic pistol to a confidential informant.

Melvin Stamps Moore of Christian County, Kentucky was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell on January 10, 2013 to 92 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession and distribution of cocaine base also known as crack cocaine. According to court records, Moore admitted in August and 2010 on two occasions that he sold crack cocaine. The sales to a confidential informant were recorded and were greater than 28 grams.

Donnell Brodie of Christian County, Kentucky was sentenced by Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell on January 10, 2013 to 120 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Brodie plead guilty in United States District Court on September 18, 2012 to possession and distribution of crack cocaine on four occasions in April, 2011.

Reginald R. Buchanan, Jr. of Christian County, Kentucky plead guilty before Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell, in U.S. District Court on January 10, 2013 to a single count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. At sentencing, Buchanan faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Brandon S. Walker was sentenced by Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell on January 10, 2013 to 51 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release, after entering a guilty plea to a single count federal indictment charging him with possession of a firearm by a felon. According to the court documents, on February 22, 2011, in Paducah, Kentucky, Walker possessed and sold a Glock GMBH, Model 22, .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol and 9 rounds of Smith & Wesson .40 caliber ammunition. The weapon was forfeited to the United States Government. Walker had previously been convicted of felony crimes in Jefferson County and McCracken County in 2000 and 2002.

All cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys for the Western District of Kentucky and the cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Western Kentucky Gun Crimes, Hopkinsville Police Department, the Paducah Police Department, Christian County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).