A 41-year-old Shelby County man was sentenced Tuesday to 120 months in federal prison for dealing fluorofentanyl and methamphetamine while possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. James Shuck's sentence combines time for drug trafficking with a penalty for firearm possession in furtherance of the offense.
Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges
According to FBI Louisville
, Shuck was sentenced to a total of 120 months for possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of fluorofentanyl and methamphetamine, along with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The case involved Shuck's drug distribution activities, according to the
U.S. Department of Justice
. The case involved fluorofentanyl, fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine.
During the investigation, Shuck admitted to selling between $300 and $500 worth of illicit drugs daily, predominantly methamphetamine, the department's report notes. The case also involved a firearm charge alongside the drug offenses.
Why the Gun Charge Adds Years to the Sentence
That firearm is the reason Shuck's sentence runs longer than a standalone drug conviction would allow. Under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, and federal statute requires that term to run consecutively to any sentence for the underlying drug counts, according to Deandra Grant Law. There is no parole in the federal system either.
Not the First Shelbyville Case Like This
The case involved federal drug-trafficking and firearm charges.
