Final Two Defendants Sentenced for their Roles in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

LONDON, Ky. – A Nicholasville, Ky., man, Bradley Lawson, 42, and a Corbin, Ky., woman, Amy Johnson, 39, were sentenced on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, to 180 months and 68 months, respectively, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, in July 2022, Lawson developed relationships with multiple sources of supply of methamphetamine, from whom he regularly obtained methamphetamine for resale.  Lawson then worked with his co-defendants, Amy Johnson, Jesse Taylor, and Michael Nakonechny, to obtain and distribute the methamphetamine in Laurel and Whitley Counties.  Specifically, in September 2022, law enforcement conducted a search and discovered two pounds of methamphetamine that they intended to distribute.  Law enforcement also found Lawson in possession of a loaded firearm.  Both Lawson and Johnson had previously been convicted of federal drug felony offenses, and Lawson was still on federal supervised release at the time on the commission of these new offenses.  Lawson received an additional, consecutive sentence for his supervised release violation, of twelve months and a day.

Nakonechny was previously sentenced to 163 months and Taylor was previously sentenced to 98 months. 

Under federal law, Lawson and Johnson must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences.  Upon his release from prison, Lawson will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years, and Johnson will be under supervision for five years.

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

The investigation was conducted by the ATF, KSP, and Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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