Federal Grand Jury Indicts Nine in Multi-State Drug Trafficking Operation Feeding Meth, Fentanyl, and Cocaine into Louisville

A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky has returned two separate indictments charging nine individuals in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking operation responsible for funneling significant quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine from Detroit, Michigan into the Louisville metropolitan area and surrounding regions. Federal authorities allege the operation functioned as a sustained interstate supply corridor, feeding high-volume narcotics into local distribution networks rather than isolated street-level transactions.

The indictments, returned on January 7, 2026, stem from a months-long, coordinated multi-agency investigation that focused on identifying the structure, supply routes, and distribution methods used by the organization. Investigators traced the movement of narcotics across state lines, linked multiple defendants to shared sources and logistics, and ultimately dismantled what authorities described as an organized drug distribution network supplying high-potency narcotics into communities across Kentucky. The investigation culminated in coordinated enforcement actions designed to disrupt the operation’s ability to move, store, and distribute illegal drugs at scale..

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Primary Drug Conspiracy Indictment

According to the first indictment, the following individuals are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute:

• 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
• 40 grams or more of fentanyl
• 500 grams or more of cocaine

Those charged include:

• Reginald Forsythe, 46, Louisville
• Damon Lewis, 50, Louisville
• Timothy McAtee, 46, Louisville
• Aiyisha Daniels, 43, Detroit, Michigan
• James Henderson, 70, Louisville
• Crystal Adams, 54, Louisville

Forsythe is additionally charged with concealment money laundering, stemming from alleged efforts to disguise proceeds generated through narcotics distribution.

Federal prosecutors allege the drug trafficking and money laundering activity occurred between September 3, 2024, and January 7, 2026, indicating a sustained and organized operation rather than isolated incidents.

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Second Methamphetamine Conspiracy Indictment

A separate indictment charges the following Louisville residents with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine:

• Isaiah Washington, 43
• Chelsea Brown, 42
• James Leffler, 38

Authorities allege this conspiracy was directly tied to the broader distribution pipeline uncovered during the investigation.

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Coordinated Raids and Enforcement Action

As part of the takedown phase, law enforcement executed 15 federal residential search warrants on January 10, 2026, including:

• 10 search warrants in Louisville
• 5 search warrants in Detroit

The coordinated enforcement action involved federal, state, and local agencies operating simultaneously across jurisdictions to disrupt supply routes, seize evidence, and prevent further distribution.

All defendants have been arrested and made their initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Kentucky this week.

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Potential Sentencing Exposure

If convicted, each defendant faces:

• A mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years
• A maximum sentence of life imprisonment

There is no parole in the federal system. Sentencing determinations will ultimately be made by a federal district court judge after considering statutory factors and federal sentencing guidelines.

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Agencies Involved

The investigation was carried out through a wide-ranging interagency effort involving:

• Louisville Metro Police Department
• Drug Enforcement Administration (Louisville and Detroit)
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
• Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Homeland Security Investigations
• Kentucky State Police
• U.S. Marshals Service
• Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
• St. Matthews Police Department
• Louisville Airport Police Department
• Bardstown Police Department

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erwin Roberts, Mac Shannon, and Robert Bonar.

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Federal Task Force Framework

The prosecutions fall under the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) framework, a coordinated federal initiative focused on dismantling drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal networks, and cartel-linked operations operating within the United States.

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Legal Reminder

An indictment is a formal allegation.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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