PIKEVILLE – A Salyersville man accepted a plea deal in a federal drug case earlier this month, with sentencing set for February.
On November 20, the signed plea agreement was entered into federal court records, with William C. Hylton, 39, of Salyersville, confessing to the charge of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, in Johnson County in April this year.
According to the agreement, the United States Attorney’s Office could prove that between April 17 through 25 this year, Hylton conspired with Kevin D. Clay, 48, of Staffordsville, to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl in Johnson County. Law enforcement reportedly used a confidential informant to make multiple controlled purchases from the two, as well as conducted a traffic stop with both men in the vehicle, with police finding approximately 53 grams of fentanyl and $1,803 in cash.
By taking the plea deal, the U.S. agrees to ask the judge to dismiss the other three charges currently against Hylton, which includes the following: two counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
The statutory punishment for the charge Hylton pleaded guilty to is imprisonment for not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years, a fine of not more than $5 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years.
Hylton was re-arraigned in federal court in Pikeville on November 21, pleading guilty to the first charge.
A sentencing hearing for Hylton is scheduled for February 29, 2024, at 2 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pikeville. All other hearings scheduled for him were canceled pending that sentencing hearing.
Clay previously accepted a plea deal in the case, pleading guilty to two of the charges, including possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for November 21, though no records have been entered for that hearing and other sealed documents have been filed regarding his case.
Both Hylton and Clay are being held at the Pike County Detention Center at press time.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
