The Bluegrass Conspiracy, a complex and intriguing case from the 1980s, remains one of Kentucky’s most notorious unsolved mysteries. It’s a tale that intertwines drug trafficking with the corruption of law enforcement and social elite, revealing a darker side of Kentucky’s history.
At the center of this conspiracy was Andrew Carter “Drew” Thornton II, a figure whose life story reads like a thriller novel. Born into a well-to-do family in Bourbon County, Kentucky, Thornton was an ex-narcotics officer and lawyer who spearheaded a drug smuggling ring known as “The Company” in Kentucky. His early life, marked by a privileged upbringing and a stint in the military, including the 82nd Airborne Division, was in stark contrast to his later criminal activities.
Thornton’s career in the Lexington–Fayette Urban County Police Department began in 1968. His work in the narcotics squad of the police department was a cover for his true intention: drug smuggling. His law enforcement background and legal knowledge provided him the perfect guise for his illicit activities. After resigning from the police in 1977, he continued his criminal undertakings, which included a significant episode in 1981 when he was among 25 men accused in Fresno, California, of stealing weapons and conspiring to smuggle marijuana into the United States.