Ohio man sentenced for fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking

An Ironton, Ohio man, Freddie Knipp Jr., 53, was sentenced recently in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Knipp was sentenced, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to 138 months in prison, for two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of sale of a firearm to a convicted felon.

In August 2019, law enforcement officers with KSP and ATF received information regarding drug trafficking and illegal firearms activity being conducted by Freddie Knipp Jr. During the investigation, agents purchased approximately 65 grams of methamphetamine from Knipp.  

Additionally, Knipp purchased and provided a firearm to a prohbited person.  At sentencing, the Court found that, during a 10-month period from 2018 to 2020, Knipp distributed at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in Boyd and Carter counties in Kentucky.

Under federal law, Knipp must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.

Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Phillip J. Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police (KSP), jointly announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the ATF and KSP.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

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