Covington Repeat Offender Convicted by Jury of Distribution of Crack, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine

COVINGTON, KY—Michael McCoy, 29, of Cincinnati, Ohio was convicted by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute over five grams of crack cocaine. He was also convicted of possessing powder cocaine and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute them. The convictions will result in a minimum 10-year sentence.

The jury returned the verdict late yesterday after a two-day trial. The evidence established that McCoy was caught in Covington on May 8, 2009, with three baggies of crack cocaine, three baggies of powder cocaine, and four baggies that contained methamphetamine tablets. All of the items were concealed in a potato chip can.

McCoy had a prior convictions for distribution of crack cocaine, possession of over a kilogram of powder cocaine, and receiving stolen property in 2003. McCoy served five years for those offenses and had just been released from prison in October of 2008.

Officers from the Covington Police Department and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force investigated this matter. Sargent Bill Birkenhauer of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force also provided expert testimony in support of the prosecution. The United States was represented in the trial by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin G. Dusing and Anthony J. Bracke.

James A. Zerhusen, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Special Agent in Charge, Timothy D. Cox, Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly made the announcement after the jury returned the verdict.

McCoy is currently scheduled to appear for sentencing before Judge Danny Reeves in Frankfort, Ky. on January 26, 2010, at 4:30 p.m. McCoy could face up to life in prison. However, his sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of sentences.