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Louisville Defense Blog & Cases
2011
Welcome to the Law Offices of Mark Chandler
September 6th, 2011
If you’re browsing this website, chances are your life is in chaos. You need solid advice from an experienced defense attorney. The team at Mark Chandler Law is here to help.
The purpose of this blog is to provide helpful information on news and recent case decisions in relevant areas of criminal law. We also understand how being under investigation or having criminal charges against you can disrupt your entire life, so we may provide information on support organizations and resources to help you through this difficult period.
As you make the critical decision about who will represent you, please keep in mind that experience and a strong track record are the best indicators of an attorney’s abilities.
United States vs. Steven Ceballos, et al.
September 5th, 2011
Case Number: 3:02CR-00125-JGH
Judge: John G. Heyburn
Jurisdiction: Western District of Kentucky at Louisville
Type of Case: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and other related offenses
Summary: Mr. Ceballos along with others was stopped in Louisville, Kentucky following an extensive narcotics investigation. Mr. Ceballos was in Kentucky with other out of town friends when the police recovered a vehicle containing in excess of 30 kilograms of cocaine. At the time of the offense Mr. Ceballos was on supervised release from another federal jurisdiction on a drug related charge. After extensive motion practice and negotiation, Mr. Ceballos was able to have all charges dismissed and plead to simple possession of marijuana. See, United States v. Ceballos,
3:04CR00062 JGH.
United States v. Michael D. Hughes
September 5th, 2011
Case Number: 3:97CR-00004-CRS
Jurisdiction: United States District Court Western District of Kentucky,
Louisville Division
Judge: Charles R. Simpson
Type of Case: Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
Result: Dismissed on motion of government
Summary: Mr. Hughes, a resident of Louisville, Kentucky, picked up a vehicle, which had previously been stopped by law enforcement in another jurisdiction. Law enforcement discovered a hidden compartment located within the vehicle which contained in excess of 30 kilograms of cocaine.
After many phone calls between the driver of the vehicle and the target of the investigation, Mr. Hughes showed up to pick up the vehicle. Mr. Hughes was stopped while driving the vehicle a short time later.
Following extensive pretrial negotiations and motion practice Mr. Hughes was able to plead to the lesser charge of misprision of felony. Mr. Hughes entered into a plea agreement which required no cooperation on his part.
United States vs. Terrell A. Gray
September 5th, 2011
Case Number: 3:97CR-00093CRS
Jurisdiction: United States District Court Western District of Kentucky,
Louisville Division
Judge: Charles R. Simpson
Type of Case: Possession and Transportation of Stolen Firearms
Summary: Mr. Gray was charged in 1997 with unlawful possession and transportation of stolen firearms in two separate indictments. Following jury trials on each indictment, the Court entered judgment of acquittal on both indictments resulting in all felony charges against Mr. Gray being dismissed.
United States vs. Shy Heath, et al.
September 5th, 2011
Case Number: 3:98CR-00052
Jurisdiction: United States District Western District of Kentucky, Louisville Division
Judge: Charles R. Simpson
Type of Case: Narcotics (Cocaine)
Result: All convictions reversed on appeal
Summary: Mr. Heath and his cousin were indicted for possessing with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride. The police conducted a search of Mr. Heath’s cousin’s apartment in west Louisville where the cocaine was located. A conditional plea agreement was entered wherein the government allowed both defendants to reserve their right of appeal.
Mr. Heath appealed his case to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in
Cincinnati, Ohio. The Appellate Court reversed the District Court’s holding in the suppression issue resulting in all charges against Mr. Heath being dismissed. See United States v. Heath, 259 F.3d 522 (6th Cir. 2001)
United States vs. Turner, et al.
September 5th, 2011
Case Number: 05-02-S-KKC
Judge: Karen Caldwell
Jurisdiction: United States District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, London Division
Result: Dismissed on appeal
Type of case: Mail Fraud/Election Fraud
Summary: Loren Glenn Turner, along with others, was charged in election fraud prosecution. Mr. Turner was charged with mail fraud and had moved the Court to dismiss the mail fraud charge as it was not encompassed within the “intangible right to honest services” of the Mail Fraud Statute. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals also rejected the use of salaries as “money or property” aspect of mail fraud as a basis for prosecution. See United States v. Turner, 465 F.3d 667 (6th Cir. 2006).
Commonwealth of Kentucky vs. Shy Heath
September 5th, 2011
Case Number: 05 CR 3716
Jurisdiction: Jefferson Circuit Court
Judge: Denise Clayton
Result: Jury verdict of not guilty
Type of case: Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (Cocaine)/Subsequent
Offender
Summary: Mr. Heath was targeted at his home by members of the Louisville Metro Police executing search warrant. Police used a SWAT team to enter Mr. Heath’s residence. Upon searching the residence police found cocaine located in a safe for which Mr. Heath gave the combination.
Assorted drug paraphernalia and currency was located throughout the home. The defense argued facilitation, a misdemeanor offense, which Mr. Heath was convicted of. Mr. Heath was found not guilty of the felony offenses and being a subsequent offender.
United States vs. Andrew Fields
September 4th, 2011
Case Number: 3:93CR-00036
Jurisdiction: United States District Western District of Kentucky, Louisville Division
Judge: Special Judge sitting from Michigan
Types of Case: Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Summary: Mr. Fields was in U. S. District Court in the Western District of Kentucky in the first crack cocaine distribution case prosecuted in that jurisdiction. Mr. Fields was alleged to have possessed with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Following trial in the matter, Mr. Fields was acquitted of all charges.
Commonwealth of Kentucky vs. Terrell A. Gray
September 4th, 2011
Case Number: 95CR-000662
Jurisdiction: Jefferson Circuit Court
Judge: Kenneth Conliffe
Result: Dismissed on motion of prosecutor
Type of Case: Attempted murder, assault in the first degree, five counts of wanton endangerment first degree, criminal mischief first degree, and intimidating a witness
Summary: Mr. Gray was charged with firing shots at a witness while stopped at a KFC drive-through in west Louisville. The witness allegedly related to the murder Mr. Gray had previously been charged with and was dismissed on judgment of acquittal. The defense was able to demonstrate that Mr. Gray played no part in the shooting of the witness at the KFC in west Louisville. All charges were dismissed on motion of the prosecutor.
Commonwealth of Kentucky vs. Jimmie W. Craig
September 4th, 2011
Case Number: 10CR-000901
Jurisdiction: Jefferson Circuit Court
Judge: Olu A. Stevens
Type of Case: Tampering with a Witness
Result: Jury verdict of not guilty
Summary: Mr. Craig, along with a co-defendant, were charged with tampering with a witness. The witness allegedly related to the homicide which Mr. Craig was charged with at the time of this allegation. The defense highly contested these issues and requested a speedy trial. Mr. Chandler along with co-counsel successfully obtained a trial date less than two months after indictment. Mr. Craig was acquitted of the charge of tampering with a witness in relation to his homicide charge. The homicide charge was ultimately dismissed the morning of trial by the Commonwealth.
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