Brian Ison
Sentence: 11 years, 3 months
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; attempting to manufacture 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; two counts conspiracy to possess equipment, chemicals, products and materials used to manufacture a controlled substance
Priors: Two years probation for speeding and driving without a license (2000); fined for minor in possession of alcohol and drinking alcohol in public (2000)
Year sentenced: 2001
Age at sentencing: 19
Projected release date: Sept 14, 2012
Brian and his five siblings grew up happily on a farm in rural Kentucky. Unfortunately, youthful experimentation with drugs at age 13 escalated into a methamphetamine addition when he was only 16-years-old. Brian left school before entering the 9th grade. His mother home-schooled him for a short period and then he went to work in the construction industry. Though Brian maintained steady employment, his addiction quickly spiraled out of control.
In February 2001, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) apprehended two suspected meth manufacturers as part of a larger investigation. 18-year-old Brian was buying meth at the individuals’ mobile home in Harrodsburg, Kentucky when agents arrived to execute their arrest warrants. Brian was consequently arrested along with the cooks and five others on the property at the time, including his twin brother. Though Brian’s name had not surfaced as a known manufacturer or dealer during the DEA’s investigation and he had only been seen at the home on two occasions during several months of surveillance, he was charged with conspiracy based on statements provided by informants and codefendants. While only 11 grams of actual methamphetamine were found on the property at the time of his arrest, Brian was held accountable for the 500 grams of meth allegedly exchanged in the conspiracy.
Brian admitted that he had purchased meth from his codefendants, but vehemently denied ever manufacturing the drug. He went to trial and was found guilty. The chief evidence against Brian was testimony from witnesses claiming they thought they had seen Brian assist in manufacturing meth on several occasions. Brian, on probation at the time for speeding without a license, was sentenced to 11 years, 3 months in federal prison. At Brian’s sentencing, U.S. District Judge Karl S. Forester stated, “You always hate to have to sentence a young man to a long period of incarceration. I wish this hadn’t happened, but it did, and it’s my duty to sentence you, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
The two individuals who were actually manufacturing methamphetamine received sentences of 14 years and 9 years, 9 months. Brian’s twin brother received a 12 year, 7 month sentence due to a gun enhancement. The other four people at the mobile home all received sentences that did not exceed 60 months.
Brian was barely 18 when he was arrested for this offense. He was engaged and expecting his first child at the time of his arrest. His young daughter, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, has grown up without her father. Brian’s family has remained supportive of him and visits him as often as possible although they are struggling financially and emotionally without him.