Office of U.S. Attorney

WICHITA–A federal grand jury returned an indictment Tuesday in Wichita against a Kentucky man for an alleged drug crime in Ellis County, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

James Ray Lawson, 54, Louisville, Ky., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The crime is alleged to have occurred Sept. 15 in Ellis County.

If convicted, Lawson faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $4 million on the methamphetamine count, and up to five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the marijuana count.

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Rodebaugh is prosecuting.

Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.