DEA investigation leads to methamphetamine distribution charges against Lexington man

The federal courthouse in Lexington, Kentucky.Photo byThe Lexington Times

Lexington, KY — A criminal complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky on Wednesday has shed light on a significant drug bust involving Christopher D. Smith, also known as "Taz." Smith is accused of conspiring to knowingly and intentionally possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The Investigation

The case against Smith is supported by an affidavit from Jason D. Moore, a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Moore, who has been involved in complex drug investigations since 2009, is currently assigned to the DEA Lexington Resident Office (LRO) Enforcement Group.

According to Moore's affidavit, the investigation centered around an incident that occurred on November 7, 2022, in Lexington. DEA agents had been conducting surveillance on Amber Eversole, a known methamphetamine trafficker in the Lexington area. On the day in question, agents observed Eversole meeting with Smith at an apartment above the old location of Two Keys Tavern on South Limestone near Jersey Street.

Following the meeting, Eversole was pulled over by the Kentucky State Police (KSP) East Interdiction Team for a traffic violation involving excessive window tint and expired registration. A subsequent search of her vehicle led to the discovery of approximately 1037.30 gross grams of suspected methamphetamine. The substance was later confirmed to be 894 grams of methamphetamine with a purity of approximately 97 percent, according to Moore's affidavit.

Eversole was indicted and later pleaded guilty, receiving an 87-month imprisonment sentence. During her interrogation, she admitted to transporting the methamphetamine and stated that she had received it from Smith. According to Moore's affidavit, her phone records also corroborated her statements, showing a WhatsApp message to a contact labeled "Taz," asking for 2 pounds of methamphetamine.

Smith's case is now pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Lexington Division. The maximum penalty conspiring to knowingly and intentionally possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine is ten years to life imprisonment.