Two Northern Kentucky men have been sentenced to a combined 44 years in federal prison for drug trafficking following an incident at a Dayton Circle K store.
Anthony Michaelis, 34, of Covington, and Blake Barnes, 23, of Alexandria, were sentenced to 21 and a half years and five years in federal prison, respectively, on Jan. 3 by U.S. District Judge David Bunning.
The two men were charged with possession of controlled substances, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, with intent to distribute as well as brandishing a firearm, per the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Kentucky.
According to Michaelis’ plea agreement, individuals at a Circle K store in Dayton approached police and told officers that two men, later identified as Michaelis and Barnes, had approached them at a gas pump and offered to sell them controlled substances. Michaelis pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the group, the agreement said. Law enforcement located Michaelis and Barnes and recovered the gun.
Barnes was wearing a backpack that contained over 12 grams of fentanyl and over three grams of methamphetamine. Officers located a bag of white powder containing over 23 grams of cocaine in Michaelis’s pants pocket.
Michaelis pleaded guilty to the charge in August 2022. Barnes pleaded guilty in September 2022.
In 2021, Michaelis was found with over 70 grams of cocaine and 346 grams of marijuana that officials said he intended to distribute, as well as $5,320. He has previous felony convictions for robbery, assaulting a police officer, and assaulting a prison inmate.
Under federal law, both must serve 85% of their prison sentences. Upon their release from prison, Michaelis will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for six years, and Barnes will be under supervision for five years.
