Seven Charged in Oxycodone Distribution Conspiracy

PAINTSVILLE, KY—Procter Wayne Pennington Sr., 57, of Paintsville, Kentucky; Procter Wayne Pennington Jr., 38, of Paintsville, Kentucky; James R. Pennington, 52, of Flat Gap, Kentucky; Dean Wayne Wright, 38, of Oil Springs, Kentucky; Angelina Boyd, 31, of Grethel, Kentucky; Keisha Howard, 20, of Hueysville, Kentucky; and Sheena Spears, 22, of Paintsville, Kentucky, were indicted today for conspiring to distribute oxycodone and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone.

The Indictment alleges that Pennington Sr., Pennington Jr., and James Pennington conspired to engage in money laundering.

The Indictment also alleges that on or about February 5, January 22, and January 11, 2010, Pennington Sr., Pennington Jr., James Pennington, Wright, Boyd, Howard, and Spears possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of pills containing oxycodone.

The Indictment further alleges that on January 27 and January 19, 2010 and December 19, 2009, Pennington Sr. and Spears distributed a quantity of pills containing oxycodone.

Kerry B. Harvey, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Timothy D. Cox, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rodney Brewer, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police, and Karen Engle, Executive Director, Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education (UNITE), jointly made the announcement today after a federal grand jury in London, Kentucky, returned the Indictment.

The investigation preceding the Indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kentucky State Police, and Operation UNITE. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant United States Attorney, Ron L. Walker Jr.

Procter Wayne Pennington Sr’s., Procter Wayne Pennington Jr.’s, James R. Pennington’s, Wright’s, Boyd’s, Howard’s and Spears’s appearance before the United States District Court has not yet been set by the Court in Pikeville, Ky. If convicted, Pennington Sr., Pennington Jr., Pennington, Wright, Boyd, Howard and Spears face a maximum prison sentence of twenty years. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of sentences.

The indictment of a person by a grand jury is an accusation only, and that person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.