LEXINGTON, KY (Saturday, February 3, 2024) – According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Kentucky, late Friday, a federal jury sitting in Lexington convicted Ronnie Goldy, 51, the former Commonwealth’s Attorney for Bath, Rowan, Menifee, and Montgomery Counties, of honest services wire fraud, use of an interstate facility with the intent to carry on unlawful activity, and bribery concerning a program that receives federal funds. Goldy was convicted of all 14 counts alleged in his indictment.
According to evidence presented, Goldy maintained a personal relationship with a woman, which was sexual in nature, that included encounters and solicitations and acceptance of sexually explicit images and videos of the woman. On multiple occasions during the scheme, Goldy used his position as the Commonwealth’s Attorney to perform official actions, or to exert pressure and influence on other public officials to perform official actions, benefiting the woman. Goldy knew these sexually explicit images and periodic sexual encounters were provided in exchange for his willingness to perform, or pressure others to perform, official actions benefitting the woman with whom he had the relationship.
“Instead of doing the job he was elected to perform, Mr. Goldy chose to victimize a vulnerable individual and exchange his law enforcement authority for things that benefitted him,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Whenever law enforcement officials violate their obligation to uphold the law, it does grave damage to victims and to the Justice system itself. This prosecution is a first step in restoring the public’s faith in the system and in holding him accountable for his disgraceful conduct.”
United States Attorney Shier and Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Boone.
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