Clay County Men Sentenced for Kidnapping

LONDON, Ky. – Two Manchester, Ky., men, Kenneth Ray Grubb, 33, and Landon Wagers, 19, were sentenced on Monday, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, to 112 months and 84 months in prison, respectively, for kidnapping.

According to their plea agreements, a drug dealer offered to pay Grubb to bring an individual to them.  To accomplish this kidnapping, Grubb worked with Wagers.  Wagers called the victim to arrange a meeting at his residence, under the pretense that Wagers had a firearm that the victim might be interested in purchasing.  When the victim arrived at the residence, Grubb and Wagers forced the victim into a vehicle and started driving toward the dealer’s residence.  Before reaching the residence, Grubb stopped the vehicle and, along with Wagers, struck the victim multiple times and forced him into the trunk.  During this, Grubb used metal knuckles to assault the victim, lacerating his head.  The drug dealer provided Grubb and Wagers with methamphetamine as payment for delivering the victim.

Under federal law, Grubb and Wagers must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences.  Upon their release from prison, they will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years. 

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by ATF and KSP.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts.  In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

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