A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned an indictment today charging 36-year-old Skylar Chase Riney, of Owensboro, with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Riney was arrested by the Owensboro Police Department on Feb. 19 and was already facing several state-level gun- and drug-related charges for the incident.
Regarding the federal charges, a release from the Western District of Kentucky U.S. Attorney’s office states that, “According to court records, on Feb. 18, 2022, Skylar Chase Riney, 36, a multi-time convicted felon, possessed with the intent to distribute, fentanyl and three firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.”
Riney will be scheduled for his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years and a maximum term of 20 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Owensboro Police Department, and the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Task Force are investigating the case.
In February, OPD announced that the joint investigation resulted in 11 pounds of marijuana, 7 grams of methamphetamine, 180 fentanyl pills, 6 handguns (3 reported stolen), a shotgun, and over $1,000 in U.S. currency being seized.
A search warrant was obtained due to an ongoing drug trafficking investigation and resulted in Riney being arrested and charged with the following in February:
- 6 counts of Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon (Enhancement)
- 1 count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (Enhancement)
- 3 counts of Receiving Stolen Property (Firearm)
- 1 count Trafficking in Marijuana (over 5 pounds) 1st offense (Enhancement),
- 1 count Trafficking in Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 2nd or greater offense (over 2 grams of Methamphetamine) (Enhancement)
- 1 count Trafficking in Controlled Substance 1st offense (Carfentanil or Fentanyl Derivatives) (Enhancement)
- 1 count Deliver or Manufacture Drug Paraphernalia
