Wheelwright Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Hundreds of Pounds of Marijuana

PIKEVILLE, KY—A Wheelwright, Ky., man admitted in federal court yesterday that he conspired to distribute at least 100 kilograms of marijuana in Pike and Floyd Counties.

John Hall, aka, “Johnny Boy Hall,” 43, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and attempt to possess with intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana.

Hall admitted that from January 2009 until December of 2010, he received between 220 and 880 pounds of marijuana.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Hall agreed to a prison sentence of 10 years. Hall has a prior drug felony conviction which subjected him to a higher sentence for the offenses. U.S. District Court Judge Amul Thapar must approve the 10 year sentence before it becomes official. Hall is scheduled to be sentenced in May of 2012.

The investigation started in December of 2010 when authorities in South Carolina discovered approximately 150 pounds of marijuana in a vehicle operated by a co-defendant. The co-defendant claimed he was driving the marijuana to Floyd County to deliver it to Hall. Kentucky State Police (KSP) and the FBI worked in an undercover capacity to coordinate the delivery to Hall. Shortly after Hall showed up to buy the marijuana he was arrested.

Follow up investigation revealed Hall had been receiving shipments of marijuana prior to December 2010.

Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Elizabeth A. Fries, Special Agent in Charge, FBI and Rodney C. Brewer, KSP Commissioner jointly made the announcement today.

The investigation was conducted by FBI, KSP, Drug Enforcement Administration in North Carolina and Henderson County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West.