Lexington Man Sentenced to 28 Years for Federal Drug and Firearm Charges
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Lexington man, Marquis Antonio Tompkins, 42, was sentenced on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 336 months (28 years) in prison, followed by 6 years of supervised release, after being convicted of multiple counts of distributing heroin and fentanyl, as well as being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to evidence presented at trial, Tompkins sold a combination of fentanyl and heroin, on five separate occasions in Lexington, between February 2020 and March 18, 2020. The jury also found that Tompkins possessed a Taurus .40 caliber pistol, after having been previously convicted of a prior felony offense. Tompkins had four prior felony convictions, two for distributing cocaine, one for use of a firearm in the commission of a drug offense, and one for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Based on his prior criminal history Tompkins was determined to be a Career Offender, under federal law. Additionally, Tompkins was on supervised release from a prior conviction when he was charged with the present offenses.
Under federal law, Tompkins 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 six years.
“For the fifth time, this Defendant has been convicted of a felony drug trafficking or firearm offense,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting Untied States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “His drug trafficking, illegal possession of guns, continued defiance of the law, and status as a Career Offender undoubtedly justify the substantial sentence he was given.”
“This sentence sends a strong message and will protect the community by removing an armed criminal from our streets,” said R. Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF, Louisville Field Division. “We are committed to making our communities a safe place. As part of that commitment, ATF, along with our local law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate, arrest and pursue prosecution of these offenders.”
Acting United States Attorney Shier; Special Agent in Charge Morrow; and Col. Phillip Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF, the Gateway Area High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HITDA) Task Force, and the Kentucky State Police. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Acting U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
