A Hopkinsville man, Robert Blaine, was convicted by a federal jury after a three-day trial for his role in a drug trafficking operation involving methamphetamine and fentanyl. Blaine, 46, conspired with Roderick Tutt, 36, and Jessica Ochoa, 40, between May 2020 and January 2022, to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine and 400 grams of fentanyl.
The case revealed Blaine’s involvement in wiring payments to Ochoa for the drugs and sending $36,960 in cash, derived from drug proceeds, to her via mail. In January 2022, Blaine arranged for Tutt to collect the drugs from Ochoa in Arizona, but Tutt was arrested during the return trip with 2,059 fentanyl pills and eight kilograms of methamphetamine.
Blaine, who has a history of prior drug convictions, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and could be sentenced to life. Ochoa and Tutt have already pled guilty to similar charges and are scheduled for sentencing in March. Blaine will be sentenced on May 5.
There is no possibility of parole in the federal system, and a judge will determine Blaine’s final sentence based on the guidelines and other factors.
