A Lexington man has been sentenced to 65 years in federal prison after being convicted on multiple firearm and drug trafficking charges.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, 41-year-old Keith Stallworth was arrested in August 2023 while carrying a pistol loaded with high-velocity rifle rounds and an extended magazine capable of holding 29 additional rounds.
When authorities executed a search warrant at his downtown Lexington apartment, they discovered large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. Officers also recovered hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a handgun, and an illegally modified pistol.
The modified firearm had been equipped with a “switch,” a device that converts a handgun into a fully automatic weapon classified as a machine gun under federal law.
In August 2025, Stallworth was convicted of carrying and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, possessing a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing a machine gun, and failing to register the weapon. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and maintaining a residence for drug distribution.
Under federal sentencing guidelines, he must serve at least 85% of his 65-year sentence. Following his release, he will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.