PIKEVILLE, KY — Samantha Nichole Daniels, 37, of Nippa, has been sentenced to 81 months in prison for her role in a drug distribution conspiracy that involved the trafficking of methamphetamine in Johnson County. Daniels had pleaded guilty last December to a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute meth.
Her co-defendant, Aaron Tyler Welch, 31, of Thealka, also pleaded guilty to the same charge in April. Both defendants admitted to sourcing large quantities of meth—ranging from 3 to 11 pounds—and selling it to users and dealers in the local area between 2021 and March 2022, when they were arrested.
During their arrest, authorities seized more than a pound of meth and nearly $7,900 in cash. The pair’s plea agreements indicate they were deeply involved in the distribution network in Johnson County, with Daniels and Welch serving as key players in the operation.
Daniels’ 81-month sentence represents a departure from typical sentencing guidelines, which in this case would typically range from 10 years to life in prison. Investigations into Daniels’ personal circumstances led to a reduced sentence, with sentencing guidelines recommending a term between 135 and 168 months.
Welch is expected to be sentenced later this week.
