Versailles Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm and Explosive as Convicted Felon

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., man, Bryan Carroll, 46, pleaded guilty on Monday, before Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of carrying an explosive during the commission of a federal felony offense.

According to his plea agreement, on March 25, 2021, law enforcement was notified that Carroll was enroute to the University of Kentucky Hospital and that had an active arrest warrant.  Law enforcement met Carroll outside the Emergency Department, where he was taken into custody.  During a subsequent search of Carroll and his vehicle, law enforcement located a total of eight firearms, including a sawed-off shotgun, four explosive devices, and one improvised explosive bomb.

During an interview, Carroll admitted to having the firearms on him when he was arrested and acknowledged the additional firearms in his vehicle.  Carroll also acknowledged the “fireworks” in his vehicle and admitted to constructing the metal can devices, which contained nails.  Carroll told law enforcement he had additional destructive devices at his home, and he possessed a large quantity of explosive materials.  Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Carroll’s home where they located two additional firearms along with six additional improvised explosive bombs.

Carroll admitted that he possessed the firearms and explosives and that he was prohibited from possessing the devices and firearms, based on a prior felony conviction.  Carroll had previously been convicted of complicity to trafficking a controlled substance, First Degree in the Woodford Circuit Court, in December 2015.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Chief Michael Murray, Versailles Police Department; Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department; and Chief Joe Monroe, University of Kentucky Police Department; jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by ATF, FBI, Versailles Police Department, the Lexington Police Department, and the University of Kentucky Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco Villalobos prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Carroll is scheduled to be sentenced on March 1, 2024. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for the firearm charges and 10 years consecutive in prison for the explosive charge. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. 

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts.  In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

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