United States Drug Enforcement Administration

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Norshawn Michael Duplessis, 40, of Detroit, Mich., has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for possessing hundreds of grams of heroin and a firearm in Lexington, Kentucky.

On December 17, 2014, U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves sentenced Duplessis for possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Duplessis previously admitted that he possessed over 400 grams of heroin and intended to distribute it. Duplessis further admitted that he possessed a .380 caliber pistol in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime. The heroin and firearm, along with approximately $57,000 in cash, were found by law enforcement in Duplessis’ Lexington apartment, during the execution of a search warrant.

Duplessis pleaded guilty to the drug charge in July of 2014 and to the gun charge in September 2014.

Under federal law, Duplessis must serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence, and, upon release, will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for eight years.

Kerry B. Harvey, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Joseph P. Reagan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) Detroit Field Division, and Rodney Brewer, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police jointly made the announcement after the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by DEA and KSP. Assistant United States Attorney, Robert M. Duncan Jr., prosecuted this case on behalf of the federal government. -