LEXINGTON, Ky. (Friday, July 26, 2019) - A Detroit man was convicted late yesterday, by a federal jury sitting in Lexington, of conspiring to distribute both oxycodone and fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl resulting in an overdose death.
After approximately four hours of deliberations following a four-day trial, the jury convicted 43-year old Shannon D. Hixon of conspiring to distribute pills containing oxycodone and fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl resulting in the overdose death of K.F.
According to the evidence at trial, Hixon supplied thousands of Oxycodone 30 mg tablets to two individuals in Lexington, which were then transported to Morehead (Rowan County) and Salyersville (Magoffin County), Kentucky, and sold to lower-level dealers and users. Additionally, the testimony established that Hixon supplied heroin and fentanyl to a group of users in Lexington. This included supplying a lethal quantity of fentanyl to a middle man, who then distributed it to K.F., an Army veteran in rehab, causing the overdose death.
Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; D. Christopher Evans, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; Chief Derrick Blevins, Morehead Police Department; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, Morehead Police Department, and the Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger W. West.
Hixon is scheduled to appear for sentencing on November 8, 2019. He faces a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of Life in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal statutes before imposing a sentence.
