FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 21, 2026) – Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today the convictions of three Louisville violent felons. The Louisville-based Violent Crime Reduction Team (VRT) secured each of the sentences.
Shawn Coogle, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of an enhanced Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon (Class B Felony), one count of Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon (Class C Felony) as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana and traffic offenses. Coogle, who has seven previous felony convictions including reckless homicide and wanton endangerment, will serve 10 years.
Download Coogle’s photo here.
Malik Madole, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon (Class C Felony). During a 2025 traffic stop, police recovered a 9mm handgun beneath the driver’s seat. Madole was previously convicted of three counts of wanton endangerment involving police officers as well as for fleeing or evading. He was sentenced to five years.
Download Madole’s photo here.
Reco Smith, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon (Class C Felony), one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (Class D Felony) and three counts of Theft by Unlawful Taking (Class D Felony). In 2025, Smith broke into a family member’s home to steal guns. Smith was previously convicted of wanton endangerment, assault and escape charges. He was sentenced to five years.
“Going after the most violent, repeat criminals equates to a safer city. We are grateful to partner every day with Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina Whethers, LMPD and others to protect Louisville families,” said Attorney General Coleman.
The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) investigated the cases. Assistant Attorneys General Critt Cunningham and Jennifer Hall prosecuted the cases on behalf of the Commonwealth.
To date, the Attorney General’s VRT has secured more than 180 felony indictments and multiple convictions.
Background
In October 2024, Attorney General Coleman joined Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell, LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey and Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David L. Nicholson to announce the Attorney General’s Violent Crime Reduction Team, a first-of-its-kind collaboration among their offices to combat violent crime in Louisville.
General Coleman established a new Attorney General’s Office location in downtown Louisville, now staffed by three prosecutors and a detective. The downtown office space used by the VRT was secured in partnership with the Mayor’s Office and Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk Nicholson. The team is collaborating with Commonwealth’s Attorney Whethers’ Office to be assigned and prosecute cases. Two of the prosecutors have also been sworn in as Special Assistant United States Attorneys, allowing them to bring the full force of both the state and federal governments against criminals to protect Kentucky families.
According to an agreement between the Attorney General and the Commonwealth’s Attorney, the prosecutors and investigators from the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Unit and the Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) will handle select cases involving nonfatal shootings, convicted felons in possession of a firearm, Louisville’s Group Violence Intervention Program (GVI) and the Prohibited Firearms Possessor program (PFP).