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Department of Justice United States Attorney David L. Huber Contact: Sandy Focken |
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August 4, 2008
DRUG DEALERS SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR TRAFFICKING IN MARIJUANA, COCAINE, AND CRACK COCAINE
– Approximately $6,000 of cocaine, “crack” and marijuana
– Tuck also admitted to possession of a handgun while using marijuana
BOWLING GREEN, KY - United States District Judge Thomas B. Russell, sentenced Michael Shawn Tuck, age 29, and Isong Richard Akpan, age 27, both of Franklin, Kentucky, for drug trafficking, David L. Huber, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, and Paul Vido, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Louisville Field Division, jointly announced today. Judge Russell sentenced Tuck to 5 years and 10 months imprisonment followed by 4 years supervised release and Akpan to 5 years imprisonment followed by 4 years supervised release. Tuck had previously pled guilty to charges of distributing marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, and unlawful possession of a firearm on February 10, 2008. Akpan had previously pled guilty to the charge of distributing crack cocaine on February 6, 2008. There is no parole in the federal judicial system.
Tuck admitted that on November 3, 2005, law enforcement officials executed a Federal search warrant at his home on Glendale Drive, Bowling Green, Kentucky. During execution of the Federal search warrant, law enforcement officials seized a stolen Glock, Model 30, .45 caliber pistol, bearing serial number CDW123US loaded with 10 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. Tuck admitted to purchasing the firearm from an unknown white male for $200.00. Additionally on that same date, Tuck stated the marijuana pipe with marijuana residue located in the kitchen belonged to him. Tuck also stated he had been smoking marijuana once a day for the past year.
Tuck also admitted to engaging in a series of drug transactions. Akpan admitted to his involvement in one of the drug deals. On February 13, 2007, law enforcement officials followed a confidential informant to Tuck’s residence located at The Registry Apartments, on Old Morgantown Road, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. On that date, Tuck sold the informant 6.1 grams of marijuana for $40.00 and 3.250 grams of powder cocaine for $130.00. On February 22, 2007, Tuck again distributed a controlled substance to a confidential informant while at his residence on Old Morgantown Road. Tuck sold the informant 3.007 grams of powder cocaine for $140.00. On March 2, 2007, Tuck met with a confidential informant and distributed crack cocaine. Specifically, Tuck sold the informant 6.63 grams of crack cocaine for $240.00.
On March 23, 2007, Tuck met with the confidential informant at Tuck’s residence on Old Morgantown Road. Tuck got into the car with the informant and the two traveled away from Tuck’s residence. During this drive, Tuck spotted law enforcement surveillance and directed the Informant to the pick-up location and point person, co-defendant Isong Richard Akpan. Tuck made a phone call to Akpan on the informant’s cell phone and told the informant to call the number after the informant dropped Tuck off. Tuck got out of the car. The informant went to the designated apartment, made the call, and obtained 6.527 grams of crack cocaine from Akpan. The informant paid $250.00 for the crack cocaine.
On April 10, 2007, the informant met Tuck at the Old Morgantown Road address. Tuck sold the informant 7.033 grams of cocaine for $250.00. On June 20, 2007, Tuck sold approximately 14 grams of cocaine to a confidential informant. The informant paid Tuck $550.00 for the cocaine. The transaction occurred in Franklin, Kentucky.
On August 17, 2007, law enforcement officials received information that Tuck was currently at an apartment located on Brandy Circle in Bowling Green, Kentucky. According to the information, Tuck had received a quantity of cocaine and would be leaving the address driving a white Cadillac en route to Franklin, Kentucky. Officers conducted surveillance on the apartment during which they observed a white Cadillac parked at the apartment. A few minutes later, Tuck left the apartment, got into the Cadillac, and drove it South on U.S. 31-W toward Franklin, Kentucky. Approximately 2 miles later, a Kentucky State Police (KSP) Trooper met the white Cadillac traveling South on U.S. 31-W. The Trooper turned and attempted to make a traffic stop. The white Cadillac turned into a factory parking lot at a high rate of speed and traveled to the rear of the parking lot. The vehicle stopped. Officers identified the driver as Michael Shawn Tuck. There were no passengers in the vehicle. While pulling into the parking lot, Tuck threw an item out the passenger side window. Officers recovered the item, a plastic bag containing 13.887 grams of cocaine and approximately 4 grams of suspected marijuana. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement officials found a plastic bag containing 3.766 grams of crack cocaine under a front floor panel. Tuck possessed these items with the intent to distribute them.
All of the suspected controlled substances were submitted for analysis by the KSP Western Regional Forensic Laboratory. The laboratory analysis revealed positive results for the presence of controlled substances. The transactions/incidents outlined above from February 13, 2007 to August 17, 2007, involved approximately 34 grams of cocaine; 24 grams of “crack”; or 10 grams of marijuana.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case. The Bowling Green Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation in partnership with the Bowling Green / Warren County Drug Task Force, as part of ATF’s mandated mission to reduce violent crime and other threats to public safety.
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