Date: 02-23-2018

Case Style:

Case Number: 5:17-cr-00101-DCR-REW-2

Judge: Danny C. Reeves

Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky (Fayette County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Robert M. Duncan, Jr. and Gary Todd Bradbury

Defendant's Attorney: Pat Nash

Description: Lexington, KY - California Man Sentenced for Role in Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

A Los Angeles man was sentenced February 23, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, for his involvement in a large drug trafficking organization. Nestor Barron, age 26, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Barron previously admitted that, in July 2017, he conspired with Fernando Lara Salas and Jorge Macias Pedroza to distribute between five and fifteen kilograms of cocaine, in Fayette County. Barron was found at the residence of Fernando Lara Salas on July 19, 2017, when members of the Lexington Police Department’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at the residence. Barron was found in a bedroom with a duffel bag that contained six kilograms of cocaine and $105,375 in U.S. currency. Barron admitted that he had obtained the six kilograms of cocaine and intended to distribute it. Barron agreed to forfeit his interest in the currency seized.

After a two-day jury trial in January 2018, Barron’s co-defendants, Fernando Lara Salas and Jorge Macias Pedroza, were convicted of multiple drug trafficking offenses, including conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and tramadol, as well as firearms and immigration offenses. They are both scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Reeves on May 4, 2018.

“I commend the cooperation among the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “These strong partnerships help remove dangerous drugs from our streets and keep our communities safe.” United States Attorney Duncan, Chris Evans, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville; and Ron Compton, Acting Chief of Police, Lexington-Fayette County Division of Police, jointly announced the sentence.

Under federal law, Barron must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release.

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