Lexington man sentenced to 65 years on firearm, drug charges

A Lexington man was sentenced to 65 years in prison for multiple firearm and drug trafficking charges.

Keith Stallworth, 41, was arrested in August 2023, according to a press release by the Eastern District of Kentucky U.S. Attorney’s Office and was in possession of a pistol containing high velocity rifle rounds and an extended magazine that could hold an additional 29 rounds.

Police found a large quantity of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine upon executing a search warrant at Stallworth’s downtown Lexington apartment, as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a handgun and an illegally modified pistol.

Stallworth was later convicted in August 2025 of carrying and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, possessing a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, possessing a machine gun and failing to register a machine gun, according to the press release.

Stallworth previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and using a residence for the purpose of manufacturing and distributing controlled substances.

In accordance with federal law, Stallworth is required to serve 85% of his sentence, the press release said, and he will be under supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release.

Credit: WKYT