London Ledger

US Agency Sues a Kentucky Limo Service for Failure to Pay Sexual Harassment Victims $95K

By Austin R. Ramsey

A London, Kentucky-based luxury limousine and corporate travel service, which had been the repeat target of workplace s*xual harassment complaints, failed to hold up its end of a $95,000 settlement with the federal government last year to compensate alleged victims, according to a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit.

The EEOC sued London-based JACO Enterprises LLC last month for breaching a conciliation agreement the company’s president, Todd Roberts, signed in October. Now, authorities want a federal court to force the company to pay the settled amount, plus interest and court fees, as “debt owed to the United States of America relating to willful and malicious injury to others.”

Roberts, who also operates a private bourbon tour company and a police, fire, medical and tactical equipment store in London, serves on the London Tourism and Convention Commission.

A onetime assistant police chief in Clay County, Roberts served four years in federal prison for his role in a widespread conspiracy to fix local elections, buy votes and bribe officials in Manchester from 2002 to 2006. JACO, which has offices in Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnati, Nashville and Knoxville, Tennessee, likely violated federal anti-discrimination law by failing to remedy the alleged s*xual harassment for one woman who filed charges with the EEOC and a class of female co-workers who were similarly affected, the government said.

One woman said she had been the subject of s*xual harassment and unwanted touching by a male co-worker in January 2024, according to the conciliation agreement the company signed on Oct. 6. Complaints against the company dated back three years, EEOC records show.

The company, which has at least 15 employees, disputed the allegations last year but entered into the voluntary conciliation agreement to pay the original complainant $70,000 and other alleged female victims $25,000 total. Company leadership also agreed to provide employee training and establish s*xual harassment policies and reporting procedures.

The EEOC said it required the company to post a notice to all employees about the resolution of the woman’s charge and their rights under federal anti-discrimination law. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of s*x, which includes s*xual harassment.

“JACO’s failure to pay as required under the agreement constitutes the breach of a binding contract,” said Kenneth Bird, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Indianapolis District in a statement “In the interests of the harmed parties and the public, the EEOC will vigorously enforce terms of the conciliation agreements that it enters into with employers.”

It’s still unclear whether the company provided training, required notices or established policies and reporting procedures as laid out in the agreement, but the EEOC said it would monitor the company for compliance for three years.

EEOC conciliation agreements are binding, voluntary settlements between an employer and the commission to resolve workplace discrimination without the time and expense of a federal lawsuit. They are offered after the independent federal agency has already investigated a charge and determined there was “reasonable cause” to believe a law was violated. The agency is required to attempt to settle employer disputes before it can file a lawsuit.

JACO president was tied to 2006 Clay County corruption scheme.

Roberts was appointed to one of two tourism commissions in Laurel County in 2023 by then-Mayor Randall Weddle, who resigned this week after an appeals court upheld his 2025 removal by the city council. A longtime supporter of London, Roberts has been known to represent the city tourism commission at public events. He owns land in the city as well as two condominiums in Lexington, according to property valuation administrator records in Laurel and Fayette counties. The head of the tourism commission, Chris Robinson, didn’t immediately respond to a Herald-Leader request for comment Tuesday.

In 2006, Roberts and several other former Manchester city officials were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug conspiracy, theft and federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, charges, stemming from a multi-year FBI investigation into local government corruption in Clay County. As assistant police chief, Roberts joined a city councilman and head of the city-county 911 system at the time in shielding a drug dealer from charges after the pair convinced the man to burn down a vacant house in 1999, according to court records. The house sat on property where the city wanted to build its new police station and 911 center and whose owner had refused to sell. He later lied to federal investigators about the scheme.

Roberts was initially named in a multimillion-dollar indictment charging several Manchester city officials with conspiracy to distribute drugs and stealing government funds. The government later dropped those charges after Roberts pleaded guilty to racketeering in the arson cover-up investigation. A year later, he was sentenced to more than seven years in prison, three years of supervised release plus assessment and restitution fines. In 2010, his sentence was amended to just over three years in federal custody and three years of supervised release, plus the fines. He was released from U.S. Bureau of Prisons custody as of February 2011, according to federal records.

Roberts is also the registered agent of a wedding venue and luxury transportation company in London, according to Kentucky Secretary of State business records. He didn’t immediately respond to multiple Herald-Leader requests for comment Tuesday.

This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 1:39 PM.

Austin R. Ramsey Lexington Herald-Leader

Austin R. Ramsey covers Kentucky’s eastern Appalachian region and environmental stories across the commonwealth. A native Kentuckian, he has had stints as a local government reporter in the state’s western coalfields and a regulatory reporter in Washington, D.C.

BREAKING: Josh Morgan Resigns from the London Police Department
Multiple sources have confirmed to the London Ledger that Officer Josh Morgan, the officer involved in the fatal shooting of Doug Harless, has resigned from the London Police Department.
At this time, the circumstances surrounding his resignation have not been officially released.
This marks another major development in a case that has drawn significant public attention and continued calls for accountability.
The London Ledger will continue following this story and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

BREAKING: Kentucky Court of Appeals Reverses Circuit Court, Upholds London City Council’s Removal of Randall Weddle

In a significant decision released Friday morning, the Kentucky Court of Appeals has reversed the Laurel Circuit Court’s ruling that reinstated Randall Weddle as Mayor of London.

The Court of Appeals directed the circuit court to immediately vacate Weddle’s reinstatement and enter an order affirming the London City Council’s removal of Weddle from office.

The case centered on Weddle’s decision to sign documents related to a $5 million loan that included mortgaging city property. According to the opinion, the City Council had discussed the proposed loan but had not voted to approve it before the documents were signed. Following a public hearing in 2025, the council unanimously voted to remove Weddle, citing multiple grounds for misconduct, including the ex*****on of the loan and mortgage documents without prior council approval.

The Laurel Circuit Court later overturned the council’s decision and reinstated Weddle. Today’s Court of Appeals opinion reverses that ruling and sends the case back with instructions to uphold the City Council’s action.

Although the opinion is designated “Not to Be Published,” it is binding on the parties involved in this case. Weddle may still seek discretionary review from the Kentucky Supreme Court, but unless further action is taken by that court, the Court of Appeals has ordered that the council’s removal be affirmed.

London City Council Calls Special Meeting on Mayor Residency

The City Council of London has called a special meeting for Friday, July 10, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at the Laurel County Fiscal Court Chambers to consider a resolution requesting that the Kentucky Attorney General initiate a usurper action against Mayor Randall Weddle.

According to the meeting agenda, the proposed resolution alleges a violation of KRS 83A.040(1), which states that a mayor “shall reside in the city throughout his or her term of office.” The resolution would ask the Attorney General to pursue action under KRS 415.050 and KRS 415.060, Kentucky statutes governing usurper proceedings that challenge a person’s legal right to hold public office.

The agenda also states that, if approved, the City Council would direct its attorneys to send the resolution, along with the findings and order from Phelps, et al. v. Weddle (Laurel Circuit Court Case No. 26-CI-00415), to the Kentucky Attorney General for consideration.

This meeting follows a circuit court ruling concerning Mayor Weddle’s residency. The Attorney General would ultimately decide whether to pursue the requested legal action.

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BREAKING: Lamborghini Financial Services Sues London Mayor Randall Weddle Over Alleged Default on Lamborghini Urus

A new lawsuit filed Monday in Laurel Circuit Court alleges that London Mayor Randall Weddle defaulted on a loan for a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, prompting Lamborghini Financial Services to seek immediate possession of the luxury SUV.

According to the complaint, Lamborghini Financial Services alleges Weddle is in default under the terms of the retail installment contract and claims he owes $60,044.56, plus interest, attorney’s fees, court costs, and any additional amounts allowed under the contract.

The lawsuit asks the court to:

* Grant Lamborghini Financial Services immediate possession of the 2019 Lamborghini Urus.
* Enter judgment against Randall Weddle for the outstanding balance.
* Award attorney’s fees and court costs.
* Retain jurisdiction to determine any remaining deficiency after the vehicle is sold, if applicable.

The complaint states the vehicle is being “wrongfully detained” by the defendant following the alleged default. It also advises that Weddle has the right to request a hearing within seven days of receiving the demand letter and must file an answer to the complaint within twenty days after being served to avoid the possibility of a default judgment.

It’s important to note that these are allegations contained in a civil lawsuit. The filing does not represent a finding by the court, and Mayor Weddle has the opportunity to respond to the claims through the legal process.

The London Ledger will continue to follow this case and provide updates as additional filings or responses are made in Laurel Circuit Court.

It’s Time for the London City Council to Act!!!
Enough is enough.
A judge has now clearly ruled that Mayor Randall Weddle does not live within London city limits making him ineligible even to run for re-election. If he doesn’t meet the basic requirement to be on the ballot, how can he continue serving as our mayor?
The City Council has a responsibility to the people of London. We’ve seen the evidence. We’ve heard the concerns. It’s time to finish what they started and impeach Mayor Weddle so we can have leadership that actually lives in the community they’re supposed to serve.
London deserves better leaders who are fully invested in this city, not just in name only.
Council members: the residents are watching. Do what’s right for London! Impeach and move forward!

Roxanne Roberts has withdrawn from the London City Council race for the November 3rd, 2026, General Election. There will now be 11 candidates on the ballot for London City Council.

(Attached letter going to remaining candidates.)

Who is going to pay for it?

If the current ambulance provider were to go out of business and the city or county had to take over EMS operations, taxpayers would inherit an enormous financial responsibility.

A county-operated ambulance service isn’t just buying a few ambulances. It requires:

• 24/7 staffing with EMTs and paramedics
• Competitive wages, overtime, retirement, health insurance, and workers’ compensation
• Ambulances that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars each
• Fuel, maintenance, tires, repairs, and replacement vehicles
• Medical equipment such as cardiac monitors, stretchers, ventilators, medications, and supplies
• Dispatch coordination, billing staff, administration, training, licensing, and insurance

Industry estimates show that one fully staffed ambulance operating around the clock can cost roughly $1 million or more per year once personnel, benefits, equipment, and operations are included. Rural EMS agencies often require multiple ambulances to ensure adequate county-wide coverage, meaning annual operating costs can quickly reach several million dollars. (valleycountywideems.com⁠)

Even with insurance billing, ambulance services rarely recover all of their costs because Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance frequently reimburse less than the actual cost of providing emergency care. Many rural EMS systems rely on local tax dollars to remain operational. (Legislative Research Commission⁠)

That means if taxpayers become responsible for operating EMS, the money has to come from somewhere:

• Higher property taxes
• New county or city taxes or fees
• Cuts to other public services
• Increased government spending

This isn’t about whether emergency medical services are important they absolutely are. It’s about understanding that operating a government ambulance service is one of the most expensive public safety functions a community can assume.

Before anyone calls for replacing an existing provider with a taxpayer funded system, they should explain exactly how they plan to pay for millions of dollars in annual operating costs without raising taxes or reducing other essential services.

The public deserves an honest conversation based on facts! not politics.

BREAKING: Judge Caperton has ruled that Randall Weddle will be removed from the ballot.

This decision follows a legal challenge regarding residency requirements for candidates seeking office in the City of London. The ruling is certain to have a significant impact on the upcoming election and will likely generate further discussion throughout the community.

No matter where you stand on the issue, this is a major development in local politics that could shape the future direction of our city. As additional details become available and any appeals are considered, citizens deserve transparency and a clear understanding of the legal process.

What are your thoughts on the ruling?