BOWLING GREEN, KY – A Taylor County, Kentucky man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking and firearm offenses.

U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, made the announcement.

Brad L. Smith, 63, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for trafficking in over 2 kilograms of methamphetamine and possessing a handgun as a convicted felon. Smith was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

On May 19, 2020, in Taylor Circuit Court, Smith was convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, second offense, involving less than 2 grams of methamphetamine.
        
On September 5, 2009, in Perry Circuit Court, Smith was convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

On September 8, 2009, in Perry Circuit Court, Smith was convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (two counts), and second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

In total, Smith had previously been convicted of 11 prior felony offenses and was considered an “armed career criminal” by statute.

United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Brad Smith’s career as a drug trafficker is over. He will be in prison until his 80’s. Smith wasted his life committing felony offenses and harming his community as a drug dealer. I sincerely hope that others see Smith’s sentence 15-year sentence and decide to stop their destructive behavior.”    

ATF Special Agent in Charge John Nokes stated, “This sentence underscores the serious threat posed by repeat drug traffickers who combine the distribution of dangerous narcotics with illegal firearm possession. ATF will continue working alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to hold violent offenders accountable, disrupt drug trafficking operations, and protect our communities.”

“Through strong partnerships and shared resources, the commonwealth was able to bring this individual to justice,” KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. said. “These partnerships send a clear message that those who bring illegal drugs into our communities will be held accountable.” 

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the ATF Bowling Green Field Office and the Kentucky State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.