Man with commuted sentence arrested again on new drug charges

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A Logan County man who previously received a commuted sentence for a felony drug conviction by former Gov. Matt Bevin was federally charged Wednesday with armed drug trafficking, United States Attorney Russell Coleman said in a release.

“This is the type of collaboration that those we serve should expect from the new U.S. Attorney’s Office Bowling Green Branch Office working alongside our partners in the recently federally-designated South Central Kentucky Drug Task Force in Logan and Simpson Counties,” Coleman said.

Kenneth S. Embry, 33, of Russellville, has been charged on a three count federal indictment with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to a criminal complaint, on or about April 1, 2020, agents with the South Central Kentucky Drug Task Force learned Embry was trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine, according to the release.

Task force agents obtained a warrant for a motel room occupied by Embry. During a search of his car agents said they found approximately 166 grams of crystal methamphetamine and a Colt .380 semiautomatic pistol, according to the release. A search of the motel room produced numerous items of drug paraphernalia including digital weight scales, unused clear plastic bags and smoking devices. Agents also uncovered a plastic baggie containing a brown powder substance suspected to be heroin.

Embry is a convicted felon with convictions for possession of a controlled substance in Logan County Circuit Court cases 13-CR-00009 and 19-CR-00054.

The defendant faces no less than 10 years and no more than life in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He faces no more than 10 years for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and no less than five years and no more than life for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Yurchisin of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office. The case is being investigated by the South Central Drug Task Force which was designated last month by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy as part of the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.