Indictment secured after Lexington FBI bust seizes over 2 kilograms of cocaine, almost $50K cash

Lexington, KY — A significant narcotics bust led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Lexington Police Department (LPD) has resulted in the indictment of Ricardo Amayo-Gonzalez on charges of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. The indictment was returned Wednesday by a Grand Jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

The Investigation

The investigation was spearheaded by Mathew Evans, a Task Force Officer with the FBI and a detective with the LPD's Narcotics Enforcement Unit (NEU). Evans has been an officer with the LPD for approximately 23 years and has been assigned to the FBI for over five years. According to a criminal complaint, the investigation culminated on June 8, when NEU detectives and patrol units executed a state search warrant at an address on Summa Meadow Drive in Lexington.

Upon arrival, the complaint says, detectives encountered a female and several small children who were asked to exit the residence. Meanwhile, Amayo-Gonzalez was under surveillance in Georgetown, KY. He was detained and found to be carrying $5,240 in cash. A search of his vehicle yielded approximately 102 grams of suspected cocaine and $13,959 in cash.

Inventory of Seized Items

A thorough search of the residence led to the discovery of:

• Approximately 1,150 grams of suspected cocaine in a grey backpack in the back left bedroom closet.
• About 750 grams of suspected cocaine in a coat in the same closet.
• Roughly 140 grams of suspected cocaine on the kitchen's hot water heater.
• Around 36.5 grams of suspected cocaine in a hair gel container.
• An additional 26 grams of suspected cocaine in a black bag in the back left bedroom closet.
• Approximately 37 grams of suspected methamphetamine in a black bag in the same closet.
• Multiple sets of digital scales, baggies, plastic wrap, and a possible ledger in the back left bedroom.
• Mexican passports with Ricardo's information and other IDs with many aliases.
• About 4.4 grams of suspected cocaine under the driver's seat of a grey Honda Pilot parked in the driveway.

In total, approximately 2,208.9 grams of suspected cocaine, 37 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and $46,199 in U.S. currency were seized, according to the complaint.

Defendant's Statement

Investigators say Amayo-Gonzalez admitted to selling cocaine since December 2022. He stated that each kilogram of cocaine was intended to be sold for $25,000 and each ounce for $1,000, primarily at bars in Lexington. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending further proceedings.

US District Court Eastern District of Kentucky - Lexington Branch on North LimestonePhoto byThe Lexington Times