U.S. Attorney for E. KY: Opioids, meth, illegal guns top priorities for crime fighting
Fifteen years ago, I began my career with the Department of Justice, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Kentucky. I now serve as the United States Attorney, with the privilege of leading an office comprised of dedicated and talented men and women who help represent the government, protect the public, and pursue justice. As we begin the New Year, I believe it is important to convey to the citizens of the Eastern District of Kentucky the enforcement priorities for my office for 2020.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr has confirmed there are no higher priorities for the Department of Justice than combating the drug problem and reducing violent crime. Consistent with this vision, reducing access to drugs (particularly opioids and methamphetamine), through aggressive prosecution of drug trafficking, and combating violent crime, through effective partnerships with law enforcement at all levels, are core priorities for my office, as we head into 2020. While the data suggests we are having success, we undoubtedly have more work to do.
According to the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy’s 2018 Overdose Fatality Report, opioid-related overdose deaths fell by approximately 15 percent, from previous levels. This represents approximately 230 fewer lives lost. This positive progress is attributable to many factors, including increased access to naloxone (the drug commonly used to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses), increased awareness of available substance abuse treatment options, efforts made by public health and medical professionals, and the dedicated work of law enforcement.
Even with this progress, opioid overdose deaths remain too high. More than half of the 1,247 resident overdose deaths occurred in the eastern portion of the Commonwealth. The top five counties for overdose deaths, per capita, are in the Eastern District, including Boyd, Madison, Kenton, and Clark counties. Four of the top five counties for fentanyl-related overdose deaths, including Fayette County, are in this district.
Law enforcement partnerships are critical in tackling our current opioid crisis. We remain committed to working across all levels of law enforcement, to investigate and prosecute those who illegally distribute opioids — be it large drug trafficking organizations or unscrupulous medical professionals — and spread misery. Until there is a fully effective curb on these unnecessary deaths, we will continue to prioritize these cases.
While opioid enforcement will deservedly continue to receive our greatest focus, we must also remain cognizant of and work to address another issue facing our community: Methamphetamine.
In partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement, we are making methamphetamine enforcement a critical priority in 2020. This includes emphasizing the investigation and prosecution of significant criminal organizations — both at the regional and local levels — who organize the local methamphetamine supply.
Most of the methamphetamine seized locally by law enforcement is manufactured in Mexico and smuggled across the southwest border. Once here, it is distributed by cartel-affiliated organizations, supplied to local trafficking groups, and sold. This methamphetamine is highly addictive, extremely potent (with purity levels of routinely over 90 percent), and available relatively cheaply. This methamphetamine is exceptionally dangerous — for users, our communities, and law enforcement. Remarkable acts of violence are commonly associated with methamphetamine trafficking, violence committed both by the trafficking organizations and by individuals using the drug.
Collaboration is critical in effectively confronting and pressuring significant drug trafficking and criminal organizations. A key resource in fostering effective partnerships is the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) program, which provides federal resources to help reduce the impact of drug trafficking and related violence, support the efforts of local law enforcement. AHIDTA provides funding for more than 20 drug task forces in four states, including several task forces operating in the Eastern District.
Because firearms are often associated with drug trafficking, we will also vigorously prosecute those who illegally use or possess firearms — especially those involved in the methamphetamine trade — in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s primary anti-violence initiatives: Project Safe Neighborhoods and Project Guardian.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is the department’s overall anti-violence initiative, geared to reduce violent crime in specific geographic areas. Project Guardian is specific to gun crime and encourages coordinated prosecution efforts, looking to ensure that individuals who unlawfully possess firearms, who use firearms to commit other crimes, or who commit acts of violence, including acts of domestic violence, are punished in the most effective and efficient manner. Both PSN and Project Guardian are premised on close cooperation and coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement, and Project Guardian is designed to complement and magnify PSN efforts.
With the help and support of our law enforcement partners, we remain steadfast in our commitment to reducing the supply of dangerous drugs and to removing armed and violent individuals from our communities. Doing so undoubtedly protects Kentuckians and helps improve the quality of life for all of us.
Robert Duncan Jr. is the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.