In a case of crime that seems pulled from the pages of a dime store crime novel, a Kentucky trio was found guilty Monday of a string of felony crimes including kidnapping while impersonating police officers while carrying stolen weapons.

A federal jury convicted two Louisville men and a Louisville woman of numerous felony offenses, including kidnapping, robbery, drug trafficking, and money laundering after a ten-day jury trial. Several other defendants previously pleaded guilty to the charges.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on July 20, 2021, John E. Lohden, Jr., 34, and others, while impersonating United States Marshals, kidnapped and held a victim for ransom. The jury found Lohden guilty of one count of kidnapping and one count of impersonator making arrest or search.

Further, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on January 7, 2022, Lohden possessed three firearms. Lohden was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

On November 16, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lohden was convicted of receiving stolen property under $10,000.

On November 28, 2007, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lohden was convicted of wanton endangerment in the first degree (three counts).

The evidence at trial revealed that the three firearms Lohden possessed had previously been stolen from members of the Louisville Metro Police Department. Additionally, one of the firearms was a short, barreled rifle. The jury found Lohden guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.

Additionally, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on August 16, 2022, Lohden, Dayton Peterson, 23, and others, while impersonating a Louisville Metro Police officer, an agent with the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and a United States Marshal, kidnapped and robbed adult and minor victims at a residence in Louisville.

The defendants took money, jewelry, firearms, and controlled substances from the home. The jury found both Lohden and Peterson guilty of one count each of kidnapping, impersonator making arrest or search, robbery, using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a of a crime of violence, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Also, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on August 18, 2022, Lohden fled from police in a vehicle downtown Louisville. Following his capture, Lohden was found in possession of over 12 kilograms of cocaine, over 1 kilogram of heroin, several firearms, a sting ball grenade, and stolen jewelry. The jury found Lohden guilty of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of an unregistered firearm.

Further, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on August 19, 2022, Peterson and Samantha Trummer, 29, used proceeds from the August 16, 2022, robbery to purchase a mobile home. The jury found Peterson and Trummer guilty of money laundering, which is engaging in a monetary transaction derived from specified unlawful activity.

Finally, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on October 26, 2022, Peterson was found in possession of over 700 grams of cocaine, over 500 grams of heroin, and a Romam/Cugir model mini-Draco .762 caliber pistol. The jury found Peterson guilty of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Lohden, Peterson, and Trummer are scheduled for sentencing on July 22, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Lohden remains detained pending sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The Court ordered Peterson detained pending sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Trummer remains released from custody pending sentencing. She faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence for each defendant after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

There is no parole in the federal system.

The FBI, LMPD, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with assistance from the ATF, IRS, DEA, and Kentucky State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Gomez and Frank Dahl are prosecuting the case, with assistance from paralegal specialist Adela Alic.