NKY couple sentenced for heroin crimes

A Covington couple was sentenced Tuesday for crimes related to heroin distribution in Northern Kentucky, according to U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky Kerry B. Harvey.

U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning sentenced William Lovelace, 25, to 90 months for conspiracy and possessing a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Tonia Cross will serve 24 months in prison for conspiracy, according to the release.

According to the release, federal law dictates Lovelace and Cross serve at lease 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon release, Lovelace and Cross will serve supervised-release terms of 10 and three years, respectively, the release said.

Authorities arrested the couple Aug. 16, 2014, after observing Loveland sell heroin in Bellevue while armed with a handgun, the release said.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force and the Bellevue Police Department.