Southern District of Alabama

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that on August 15, 2019,  United States District Court Terry F. Moorer sentenced Tee-Henry Wulu Currens, 22, to 24 months in federal prison for the violation of 18 United States Code 2421-- Transporting Any Individual in Interstate Commerce Intending to that Individual Engage in Prostitution. Judge Moorer considered Currens’s actions on the day he was arrested, as well as his conduct during his interview with a United States Probation Officer, which necessitated extra jail security in order to ensure her safety. 

United States Attorney Moore said, “I want to congratulate both the Robertsdale Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security in Mobile for successfully pursuing this case.   These human trafficking cases are often difficult to investigate and to prosecute but the Robertsdale Police Department and HSI stepped up on this case and did the hard work to bring this trafficker to justice.  We do not have to accept that some people in our society will become sexual slaves.  Both law enforcement and our community have a role to play in disrupting the traffickers’ trade.”

According to documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, in January 2019, Currens first met the female victim while she was working as a prostitute in Jacksonville, Florida, initially becoming her client.  Soon after, Currens volunteered to work as his victim’s driver and provide her with security. The victim told investigators that Currens became abusive, controlling, and forced her to meet with clients, and Currens would subsequently keep all the money from the trafficking event.  The victim stated that Currens would force her to have sex with clients and that he would physically beat her if she refused to be trafficked.
 
On or about March 1, 2019, Currens drove the victim from Panama City, Florida to the Mobile, Alabama area for the purpose of trafficking her during Mardi Gras celebrations.
 
On March 02, 2019, the Robertsdale Police Department received a 911 call from the victim, who had managed to get away from Currens during a stop at a local gas station.   The victim reported that she had been kidnapped by Currens out of Florida and brought to Alabama to engage in prostitution.    Upon their arrival, Robertsdale Police noted the victim was visibly upset and had bruising on her head, face, and legs consistent with assault.
 
Currens made post Miranda statements to law enforcement and admitted to the victim’s account of how the two had met. Currens also admitted that the two were from Florida and travelling to Mobile for the purpose of having the victim engage in prostitution.  He stated they had argued while in Florida, where the victim had asked that he leave, but Currens refused.

The Robertsdale Police Department, along with Department of Homeland Security, Mobile Field Office, investigated this case.  “Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, and the threats and abuse inflicted on these particular victims only adds to the heinous nature of the crime,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Nick S. Annan. “HSI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to find and prosecute criminal traffickers while ensuring the victims of this terrible crime are rescued and get the care they need.”

Locally, The Rose Center in Mobile, is a drop-in center specializing in providing services and resources for victims of human trafficking.  Alabama Director Crystal Yarbrough commented, “Today was a major victory for the women in our community who have had their voices silenced for far too long. Today the judge demonstrated that violence against women and the objectification of women will not be tolerated. This is an exciting day!”

Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Baugh prosecuted the case for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Jarvis Moss, a 38 year old resident of Selma, Alabama was sentenced to 30 months of incarceration for possession of a Smith & Wesson, .38 caliber pistol.

On May 30, 2019, Moss pled guilty and admitted in Court that on July 29, 2018, a Selma, Alabama police officer initiated a traffic stop on a Camaro being driven by Moss for no tag displayed.  As the officer approached Moss, he could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside his vehicle.  The officer then asked Moss if he had illegal drugs inside the vehicle.  Moss responded by reaching into his left pocket and pulling out a small quantity of marijuana that he then gave to the officer. Next, the officer asked Moss if he had any weapons inside the vehicle.  Moss responded saying that there was a gun and that he did not have a permit for it.  The officer asked Moss to exit the vehicle and he did.  Moss then told the officer that the firearm was in his front right pocket.  The firearm is described as a Smith & Wesson, .38 caliber revolver.  Moss was then arrested.    

At that time, Moss had been convicted of at least three felonies, namely, Resistance to Official Search on April 16, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, case number CR 09-00136-001; Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance; Attempt – Trafficking Cocaine on May 18, 2010, in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama, case number CC-09-163.

Officers of the Selma, AL Police Department and special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Jessie Anthony Parker, 36, of Mobile, Alabama, was sentenced today in federal court in Mobile after his conviction resulting from a jury trial conducted in January of 2019.  Parker was convicted on two counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine, and felon in possession of a firearm.  Parker has three prior felony convictions in Mobile County Circuit Court for possession of marijuana for other than personal use, and a prior conviction in federal court in Mobile for using, carrying and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking felony.  Because his prior criminal convictions qualified him as an armed career criminal under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, Parker’s advisory guideline range was 360 months to life. 

United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed a sentence of 360 months imprisonment, consisting of 120 months on the marijuana count, and 360 months on each of the remaining counts, with all sentences running concurrent.  Judge Moorer also ordered that Parker will serve a total of 5 years on supervised release, following his release from imprisonment.  He ordered that Parker will pay $300 in special mandatory assessments, but no fine was imposed.  Parker will also undergo testing and treatment for drug abuse as a separate condition of his supervision. 

The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria A. Bedwell.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that Baldwin Bone & Joint, P.C. (BB&J), an orthopedic surgery and physical therapy practice located in Daphne, Alabama, has agreed to pay a total of $1.2 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging that it violated the False Claims Act.  The settlement also resolves an allegation that BB&J violated the Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly referred to as the Stark Law.

“This settlement illustrates the United States Attorney’s Office’s commitment to investigate allegations of fraud and abuse of the Medicare and TRICARE programs,” said U.S. Attorney Richard W. Moore.  “False claims against these taxpayer-funded programs harm the entire health care system, as does the improper compensation of physicians to incentivize potentially unnecessary care.”

The civil lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Alabama by John Seddon, a former employee of BB&J, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private individuals to sue for false claims on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery.  The lawsuit is captioned United States, ex rel. John Seddon, v. Baldwin Bone & Joint, P.C., et al., Case No. 15-00569-CG-M, and initiated a federal investigation into the allegations raised by Seddon’s complaint, culminating in the settlement.  The Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service both participated in the investigation on behalf of the Medicare and TRICARE programs, respectively.

The qui tam lawsuit filed by Seddon alleged in part that BB&J violated the False Claim Act by billing Medicare and TRICARE for physical therapy services performed by unauthorized providers, including athletic trainers and an exercise physiologist, who are prohibited from billing these programs.  The Stark Law allegations concerned BB&J’s direct compensation arrangements with its shareholder physicians, namely, that those arrangements violated the Stark Law because the compensation BB&J paid to its shareholder physicians directly or indirectly related to the volume of each shareholder physician’s referrals for designated health services such as physical therapy, X-rays and MRI’s.
 
“Providers who falsely bill Medicare for services they didn’t provide, as alleged in this case, not only harm their patients, they also hurt all beneficiaries who depend on Medicare funding to provide access to quality services,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect taxpayer dollars for these valuable programs.”

Cynthia A. Bruce, Special Agent in Charge, Southeast Field Office, Defense Criminal Investigative Service added that "DCIS is dedicated to ensuring the integrity of the Department of Defense's Healthcare system.  "Our agents will pursue companies who commit fraud and allow unqualified individuals to provide services to our military members and their families."
As a part of this settlement, Seddon will receive $200,000.  BB&J cooperated with the United States’ investigation, and the settlement will result in the dismissal of the lawsuit.  The government’s resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud.  One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Defense Health Agency Program Integrity Office.
  
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only; no determination of liability has been made.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Lasieka Juwanne Lee, 32, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced on the charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on August 9, 2019, in federal court in Mobile.  Lee pled guilty to the charges in January of 2019.

United States District Court Judge Kristi Dubose imposed the statutory minimum mandatory sentence of 60 months for Lee’s involvement with the distribution of approximately 91 grams of methamphetamine.  The judge ordered that Lee be placed on four years of supervised release when she completes her term of imprisonment.  Lee will undergo treatment and testing for drug abuse while she is imprisoned and under supervised release.  No fine was imposed, but Lee was ordered to pay the mandatory special assessment of $100.

The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria A. Bedwell.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Thomas Clifford Johnston, 36, of Saraland, Alabama, was sentenced in federal court for his participation in the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  He pled guilty to the charge in October of 2018. 

United States District Court Judge Callie V. S. Granade imposed a sentence of 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release.  The judge imposed standard conditions of supervision on record with the court for Johnston’s supervised release term, but added a special condition that he be tested and treated for drug and alcohol abuse.  No fine was imposed, but the judge ordered that Johnston pay the $100 mandatory special assessment. 

The case was investigated by the Saraland Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria A. Bedwell.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that Garnett James Lloyd, Jr.  age 48, of Morganton, North Carolina, was sentenced today after earlier pleading guilty to a count charging violation of 18 USC Section 2261A(2)(b), Cyberstalking.
   
As part of his plea agreement, Lloyd admitted that he posed on Facebook as a young female, Taylor Smiths.  As Taylor Smiths, he contacted a girl from Mary G. Montgomery School whose mother had listed a formal dress for sale on Facebook Market place.  The mother believed the contact to be suspicious and reported it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The same day, another mother contacted the FBI concerned that her daughter had received a friend request from Taylor Smiths and that she was inquiring about a dress for sale.  The mother gave the FBI permission to assume her daughter’s Facebook account.
 
The defendant contacted the undercover FBI agent and asked for pictures of the dresses for sale.  This eventually progressed to Lloyd asking for specific poses in the dresses claiming that he was considering wearing them for a pageant.  He then asked for certain voyeur type photos and offered to pay $700 for them.  The undercover agent refused to send additional photos and Lloyd said he would contact her friends and family and “destroy her good girl status.”  He later claimed that he had edited other pictures to simulate her topless and that he would send those pictures to her family.  He also demanded that she respond only with “Yes, Master” or “No, Master.”FBI agents tracked the messages to Lloyd in Morganton, North Carolina.
 
At sentencing, Judge William H. Steele, noted that the defendant had a significant criminal history which was not captured in his sentencing guideline calculations.  This included three convictions for sexual battery and one conviction for breaking and entering into a sorority house in Charlottesville, Virginia.
 
The Court also considered the arguments of the United States Attorney’s Office that the true nature of the charged crime reflected dangerous predatory behavior and that the defendant should be sentenced to the statutory maximum sentence and be required to register as a Sex Offender.
 
Most significantly, the Court heard the statements of the young victim in this case and her mother.  The very accomplished young woman told the court that she was now afraid to practice her running events unless she was accompanied by coaches or friends.  The mother stated that her daughter frequently had anxiety about attending public events and that the entire family was now extremely cautious of strangers.  They both stated that they intended to be advocates for victims of these crimes and to spread the word for education of the dangers of the internet.

Judge Steele  thanked the family for speaking and noted that they illustrated the ripple effect of these crimes as they impacted not only the intended victim but also her family, friends and coaches.  After considering all the factors, Judge Steele found that a fair and just sentence required a sentence at the statutory maximum.  He sentenced the defendant to 60 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.  He is also required to register as a sex offender.             

This case was investigated by the  Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office and AUSA Maria E. Murphy.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces today that United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced defendant Bryan Heath Wester, 43, a resident of Springville, Alabama, to imprisonment for 12 months and one day for tampering with a consumer product. As part of the sentence, the judge ordered that Wester undergo three years of supervised release after finishing his term of imprisonment, pay a $100 mandatory special assessment, receive substance abuse and mental health treatment as directed by the U.S. Probation Office, and pay restitution totaling $511.48 to a patient-victim in the case.

On January 31, 2019, a federal grand jury for the Southern District of Alabama charged Wester with one count of tampering with consumer products in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1365(a). On April 26, 2019, Wester pleaded guilty to the charge. He faced up to ten years imprisonment. 
  
Wester admitted to the following facts at his plea hearing. He was previously a licensed nurse and a paramedic who worked for an air ambulance service in Demopolis, Alabama. On August 26, 2018, Wester, with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death and bodily injury, and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk, tampered with ketamine hydrochloride (ketamine), a consumer product that was manufactured outside of Alabama and affected interstate commerce. Wester accessed the controlled substances box inside a locked safe located on board an emergency helicopter, removed ketamine from two vials, and replaced the removed ketamine with saline, knowing that the ketamine was intended to be administered via injection to critically ill and injured patients being transported by helicopter for emergency treatment.

On August 27, 2018, a critically injured patient required air transport to Mobile, Alabama. The patient had been run over by a cow and suffered head trauma and loss of consciousness. The on-board nurse attempted to administer ketamine. The vial appeared to have a blue glue on the cap. When the needle was inserted, the vial did not appear to be vacuum sealed. The nurse administered the dose but it did not have the anticipated effect. The nurse then obtained a second vial of ketamine and found that the cap had been glued on.

On August 30, 2018, a special agent with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Office of Criminal Investigations interviewed Wester, who admitted to removing ketamine from two vials on August 26. According to his statements, around midday on August 26 Wester asked another nurse on duty for the nurse’s set of keys to the locked narcotics on the helicopter, telling the other nurse that he would do the equipment check. The nurse gave Wester the keys. Wester opened the safe and did not lock one side back. The two-key lock system allowed Wester to return later with his own keys and access the safe. Later that evening, Wester went out to the helicopter, withdrew the ketamine from two vials, and replaced it with saline. Wester re-glued the tops of the vials with dermabond. There was a zip-tie securing the plastic narcotics box inside the safe; Wester cut the zip-tie off and replaced it with a new one. Wester also changed the number in the logbook to reflect the new number. The old number ended in a “2.” Wester changed it to a “1.”

At today’s sentencing, District Judge Beaverstock underscored that Wester had abused his position of trust treating vulnerable patients and that Wester was no longer working as a paramedic and flight nurse as a result of the offense conduct.

After sentencing, U.S. Attorney Moore stated, “Health care practitioners take an oath to treat the injured and vulnerable among us. This defendant brazenly violated that oath and has been held accountable for his criminal conduct. I commend the FDA for investigating this important case.”

“FDA is fully committed to the vigorous criminal prosecution of any individual who threatens the safety and security of the U.S. drug supply,” said Justin Fielder, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations’ Miami Field Office. “The sentencing in this case should send a clear signal that this kind of illicit tampering activity will not be tolerated.”

FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Sinan Kalayoglu prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that James Thomas, a 28 year old resident of Selma, Alabama was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration for possession of a CZ, .40 caliber pistol.

On April 19, 2019, Thomas pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that on December 19, 2019, a Selma, Alabama police officer conducted a traffic stop of a Nissan Altima being driven by Thomas that had no tag displayed.  As the officer approached the vehicle, he could smell marijuana coming from the car and could see passengers inside the vehicle with Thomas.  The officer asked for and received Thomas’s driver’s license. Thomas said that he had just purchased the vehicle and did not have insurance.  The officer returned to his vehicle to run a check on Thomas’ license and to wait for the additional officers he radioed for after he smelled marijuana.  When the additional officers arrived, the original officer asked Thomas to exit his vehicle and he did.  The officer next asked Thomas if there were any weapons inside the vehicle.  Thomas responded saying that there were no weapons inside the vehicle and gave verbal consent to search it.  During the search, police found a large cookie jar containing marijuana. Officers also found a CZ, model CZ75B, .40 caliber pistol under the front seat.   Thomas knowingly possessed the firearm.  An additional quantity of marijuana was seized from a passenger’s sock.    

At the time of the traffic stop, Thomas has been previously convicted of a felony, namely, Manslaughter, on July 26, 2013, in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama, case number CC-2012-000029.  Because of this felony conviction, Thomas was prohibited from possessing a firearm.  As part of his plea, Thomas forfeited any and all interest in the CZ, model CZ75B, .40 caliber pistol. He also forfeited any and all interest in a Taurus, model PT-25, .25 caliber pistol, seized from the vehicle he was driving on January 19, 2019.

Officers of the Selma, AL Police Department, deputies of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Gerald Dewayne Griffin, 42, of Mesa, Arizona, was sentenced today in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice.  Griffin pled guilty to the charge in January of 2019.

United States District Court Judge William H. Steele sentenced Griffin to 105 months imprisonment, to be followed by a supervised release term of five years.  During his imprisonment, Griffin will undergo drug abuse counseling and treatment.  After he is released under supervision, the judge ordered that Griffin will continue drug abuse counseling and treatment.  No fine was imposed, but Griffin was ordered to pay the $100 mandatory special assessment. 

The case was investigated by the MCSENT Task Force, the Mobile Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria A. Bedwell.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Anthony Brown, a 35 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced to 57 months of incarceration for possession of a Glock .45 caliber pistol.

On April 16, 2019, Brown entered a guilty plea in open court to a violation of the statute prohibiting a person convicted of a felony to possess a firearm.  Specifically, on December 2, 2018, Selma, Alabama police officers responded to Vaughn Hospital in reference to a gunshot victim. When they arrived, they learned that there were two gunshot victims in the emergency room being treated. Both victims had gunshot wounds in their lower back area. The two victims told the police officer that they were passengers in a Chevrolet Impala being driven by Brown traveling east on Highway 90 when bullets pierced the exterior of the vehicle and hit each of them. The victims said they did not know who shot them or why they were targeted. Brown was the owner of the Impala he was driving at the time of the shootings.
 
Next, officers investigated Brown’s Impala. Officers were looking for bullet holes and spent bullet casings. They observed several bullet holes that were from different caliber firearms and could see blood inside the vehicle.  A thorough inspection and inventory search of the Impala revealed a loaded Glock GMBH, model 21, .45 caliber pistol, in the truck of the Impala. The Glock was seized. At that time, Brown had been convicted of two felonies, namely, Assault 1st on April 5, 2013, in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama, case number CC-2011-000190 and Manslaughter on December 5, 2005, in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama, case number CC-05-49.  Brown greed to forfeit any and all interest in the Glock seized from his vehicle.

Officers of the Selma, AL Police Department along with special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Cornelius Jeremih Pruitt, 23, of Bay Minette, Alabama, was sentenced in federal court on charges that he was a drug user illegally in possession of a firearm.  Pruitt pled guilty to the federal charge in April of 2019.  Court documents reflect that Bay Minette police and United States marshals arrested a fugitive wanted in connection with a homicide investigation at Pruitt’s residence in Bay Minette in March of 2018.  They received consent to search the residence, and found six guns in the house, one of which was a short-barrel rifle.  They also found bags of marijuana, packaging material and scales for weighing drugs.  Pruitt was advised of his rights, and he admitted to the investigators that he was a user of illegal drugs.

United States District Court Judge Callie V. S. Granade imposed a sentence of 18 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.  During that time, Pruitt will undergo drug and alcohol abuse testing and treatment.  The judge did not impose a fine, but she ordered that Pruitt pay a $100 special mandatory assessment. 

The case was investigated by the Bay Minette Police Department, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshal’s Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Forrest Carl Bullin, 39, of Stockton, Alabama, was sentenced in federal court on the charge of being a drug user in possession of a firearm.  Bullin pled guilty to the charge during his jury trial in March of 2019. 

United States District Court Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock accepted the guilty plea on March 21, 2019, after the United States Attorney’s Office called three witnesses during the trial who all implicated Bullin with involvement in methamphetamine use.  Bullin’s guilty plea came prior to the expected testimony of Baldwin County sheriff’s deputies who responded to the defendant’s residence on December 19, 2017. Bullin fired shots at Baldwin County sheriff’s deputies who responded to a report that he was involved in a domestic dispute which had resulted in his girlfriend being pushed off a bridge.  Bullin shot one of the deputies in the face and torso.  In the statement of facts supporting the guilty plea, Gloria Bedwell, the federal prosecutor representing the United States, advised Judge Beaverstock that several methamphetamine smoking pipes were recovered in Bullin’s residence, and one of them was recovered within feet of the firearm Bullin used to shoot at the deputies.  Bullin’s DNA was found on that meth pipe and also on three of the remaining four meth pipes recovered in the search of the residence.    Judge Beaverstock accepted Bullin’s mid-trial guilty plea and set the case over for sentencing.

At the sentencing hearing Monday, July 22, Judge Beaverstock found that the advisory sentencing guidelines, which were calculated at 235 months to 292 months, were limited by the statutory maximum of 120 months.  The judge found that the statutory maximum sentence of 120 months became the guideline sentence in this case.  Judge Beaverstock sentenced Bullin to the maximum possible, 120 months imprisonment, to be followed by a supervised release term of 3 years.  As conditions of his supervision, the judge ordered that Bullin would undergo mental health and drug abuse treatment.  He did not impose a fine, but ordered that Bullin pay $100 in special assessments.

United States Attorney Moore said, “I have said this before and I will repeat it again: You do not shoot a cop. If you do we will bring the full weight of the federal government down on you.” Moore said, “Judge Beaverstock rightly imposed the maximum sentence on this trigger puller who shot a law enforcement officer.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office will always be zealously prosecuting anyone who picks up a weapon to use against one of our officers.  Our veteran prosecutor Gloria Bedwell along with our law enforcement partners put together a compelling case that has resulted in getting this dangerous individual out of our community.”   

The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Major Crimes Task Force, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Bay Minette Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Jose Cristobal Cardenas-Cabrera, 31, of Mexico, was sentenced in federal court this afternoon on the charge of illegal re-entry into the United States after having been previously deported.  Cardenas-Cabrera, who was arrested on state charges of possession of cocaine under the alias of Eduardo Pecheco, was identified under his true identity by United States Customs and Border Patrol agents.  He was indicted on the federal charge of illegal re-entry after deportation in February of 2019 and he pled guilty in April of 2019. 

United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed a sentence of 13 months imprisonment, and ordered that upon his release from custody, Cardenas-Cabrera will be surrendered to a duly authorized immigration official for consideration of deportation.  The judge further ordered (if Cardenas-Cabrera is not deported) that he will undergo drug and alcohol testing and treatment as conditions of a three-year term of supervised release.  No fine was imposed, but the judge ordered that Cardenas-Cabrera pay a $100 special mandatory assessment.

The case was investigated by the United States Customs and Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Mobile Police Department.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell. 

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that July 9, 2019, Christopher Shane Dreiling was sentenced in federal court on two counts of assault with intent to murder within the special maritime jurisdiction of the United States. Dreiling received a thirty year prison sentence, consisting of fifteen years on each count of assault to run consecutive to each other.
 
At trial, a jury found that at dusk on August 20, 2017, Dreiling attacked the captain and another crew member of the Billy B. a commercial fishing vessel. After stabbing both victims multiple times with a fillet knife, Dreiling forced the victims off the boat and into the Gulf of Mexico approximately 46 miles south of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach. A distress call was received by Coast Guard Sector Mobile, which immediately dispatched the CGC Kingfisher, a helicopter from CG AIRSTA New Orleans, and a small boat from CG Station Pensacola. Sector Mobile also notified the Coast Guard Investigative Service. Because of quick and heroic action by the United States Coast Guard, both victims were eventually rescued from the water and evacuated to a hospital in Pensacola.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore said, “We are blessed to live on the Gulf Coast where life on the water is a part of our proud heritage.  When we go out on our rivers, Mobile Bay or the High Seas we deserve to do so free of fear of marauders who would rob us of the enjoyment of being on the water.  Fortunately, we have a skilled and vigilant Coast Guard on duty and ready to respond like they did in this case.  We will not tolerate criminal acts anywhere within our jurisdiction whether it is against our commercial fishermen or our recreational boaters.”

"Men and women from multiple Coast Guard units immediately responded to this attack, demonstrating how committed we are to protecting the lives of mariners regardless of the hazard," said Rear Adm. Paul Thomas, Eighth District commander.

This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, RAO Mobile, AL.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that George Joseph Randall Collier, 40, of Theodore, Alabama, was sentenced in federal court on two charges, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of or in relation to a drug trafficking felony.  Collier pled guilty to the charges in 2018.

United States District Court Judge Callie V. S. Granade imposed a sentence of 83 months imprisonment, consisting of 23 months on the drug count and 60 months consecutive on the gun count.  Collier will serve a period of 6 years on supervised release following the completion of his custody sentence.  He will undergo drug and alcohol abuse treatment and urine surveillance while he is under supervision.  The judge did not impose a fine but ordered that Collier pay $200 in special mandatory assessments. 

The case was investigated by the Mobile Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria A. Bedwell.

 United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Ryan Cody Goodman, a 29 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced to 57 months of incarceration for possession of a five stolen firearms.

On March 28, 2019, Goodman entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that on July 6, 2018, Goodman borrowed a friend’s gray four door vehicle.  Goodman then travelled to an address in Semmes, AL and burglarized the residence.  During the commission of the burglary, the owner came home, observed a four door gray vehicle outside of his home and the front door open.  He walked inside of his home and saw Goodman.  When Goodman saw the homeowner, he retreated to a bedroom, jumped out of a window, and ran while holding a pillowcase with several items that belonged to the homeowner stolen during the burglary. The items stolen included ammunition, several knives, numerous coins and five firearms.  The homeowner called the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and reported the burglary. At that time, Goodman had been convicted of at least four felonies, namely, Burglary 2nd Degree, Receiving Stolen Property, 1st Degree, and two convictions for Burglary 3rd Degree.

  Deputies of the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office along with special agents of the FBI investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that Uford Davis, a 44 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced to 12 months in prison as a result of his conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

On March 20, 2019, Davis entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that in 2018, he conspired with U. S. mail carrier Unterria Rogers to distribute marijuana.  Specifically, Rogers’s duty station as a mail carrier was Midtown Station in Mobile.  Davis occasionally met Rogers along Rogers’s mail route and Rogers gave packages of marijuana to Davis who then paid Rogers quantities of cash.
 
On May 23, 2018, a surveillance operation determined Rogers met with Davis who was driving a Ford F150 along his route and handed off drug parcels with various addresses to Davis in exchange for the cash. This meeting was observed, and video recorded by a police helicopter. A short time later, Rogers was arrested.  He was found to have $2,610 in cash on his person and additional drug parcels in his postal truck, one of which was assigned to another route.  Davis was also simultaneously arrested and his vehicle searched.  Two parcels of marijuana just given to him by Rogers were seized from the F150 driven by Davis.
 
Davis was Mirandized and interviewed that day.  Davis said that he heard that Rogers worked for the postal service and could deliver marijuana to him.  Davis said that Rogers provided him with names and addresses to be put on packages.  Davis then passed that information on to his marijuana drug connection in California.  The California drug connection d then shipped marijuana to Mobile in the names of these people.  Davis received marijuana packages once or twice a week for the past six months.  Rogers made about eight to 10 successful delivers to Davis during that time.  Rogers attempted to deliver five more marijuana packages to Davis but was unsuccessful.  Davis paid $500 per pound of marijuana to his California connection and $250 per pound of marijuana to Rogers.  The two boxes seized from Davis F150 on May 23, 2018, contained 19 pounds of marijuana.  Rogers was paid $500 for the two packages he provided to Davis on May 23, 2018.  The total amount of marijuana attributed to Davis is approximately 123 pounds.

Inspectors of the United States Postal Inspection Service along with special agents of the United States Postal Service/Office of the Inspector General investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney Gina S. Vann.

 United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that Unterria Rogers, a 33 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama, was sentenced to 60 months in prison as a result of his conviction for use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On March 29, 2019, Rogers entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that in 2018, he was a United States mail Carrier.  During that year, the United States mail delivery databases showed a high volume of parcels suspected of containing narcotics destined to Mobile, Alabama city carrier route 009, a route assigned to Rogers.  Further analysis by United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) special agents of the U. S. Postal Service databases identified numerous suspected drug parcels scanned delivered by Rogers away from the intended delivery addresses on his route.  An internal investigation by the USPS-OIG disclosed Rogers was utilizing his position as a city mail carrier to provide addresses from his assigned route to a drug source in California, so he could control, divert, and distribute drug parcels utilizing the U. S. Mail. These drug parcels contained illegal quantities of marijuana which he diverted and distributed to outside non-USPS employees in exchange for cash payments as he delivered mail along his assigned route.  Further, surveillance video disclosed Rogers rifling U.S. Mail that came into is possession to be delivered to addresses along his route to locate the quantities of marijuana.  Rogers is also captured on video leaving his mail truck to deliver the found quantities of marijuana to co-conspirators who met him at predetermined locations along his mail route.  Rogers was captured returning to his postal truck sitting in the driver’s seat counting amounts of cash he received from the co-conspirators in exchange for the quantities of marijuana.
Rogers was interviewed.  In total, Rogers admitted to opening approximately 25-30 U.S. mail parcels inside his postal truck.  Further, Rogers admitted to receiving cash in exchange for marijuana parcels being sent to his route and providing them to the three people. Rogers admitted to receiving on more than one occasion $250.00 per package.  In addition, Rogers provided verbal consent to a search of his residence and identified the key for entry into his residence.
 
Rogers stated that he acted as a middle man and provided addresses and account information to a local drug dealer who then provided the information to his California contact.  During a consent search of Rogers’s residence, $3,269 in U.S. currency, a DVR for house surveillance, and a set of digital scale were seized by agents.    The money was seized from the pocket of Rogers’s postal uniform. A review of Rogers’s DVR in-house video showed Rogers seated in front of a coffee table that had a handgun, a small quantity of marijuana and a set of digital scales in arms distance from him.  Firearms are tools of the drug trade used by illegal drug dealers to protect themselves and their product.  The firearm was brought to Rogers’s home for protection of them and their illegal drug activities by a co-conspirator, Lakeddrick Green.

The total amount of marijuana attributed to Rogers in the conspiracy was approximately 133 pounds.

Inspectors of the United States Postal Inspection Service along with special agents of the United States Postal Service/Office of the Inspector General investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that James Bernard Braddy, 43, of Miami, Florida, was sentenced in federal court.  Braddy pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 62 kilograms of cocaine.  Court documents reflect that Braddy was stopped by Saraland police officers on Interstate 65 for a traffic violation.  During the stop, a police dog gave a positive indication for the odor of a controlled substance emanating from Braddy’s vehicle.  A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of the cocaine, along with a bag containing $40,000 in cash.  Braddy was found guilty of the two charges after a bench trial on February 11, 2019. 

United States District Court Judge Callie V. S. Granade imposed a sentence of 121 months imprisonment on the two charges, but ordered that the sentences would run concurrently.  She also ordered that Braddy serve a five-year term of supervised release when he is released from custody.  No fine was imposed in his case, but Braddy was also ordered to pay $200 in special assessments. 

The case was investigated by the Saraland Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.

On June 28, 2019, a jury in the Southern District of Alabama convicted four men, Angel Castro Garcia, Pedro Dino Cedado Nunez, Manely Enriquez, and Mike Castro Martinez, all Dominican Republic nationals, for attempting to smuggle 182 kilograms of cocaine from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. All four defendants will be sentenced on October 7, 2019 by United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock.

The case arose when, on December 24, 2018, a United States Border Patrol aircraft spotted a suspected drug smuggling vessel operating in international waters northeast of the Dominican Republic. The vessel was travelling on a known drug smuggling route to Puerto Rico. The aircraft notified the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the USCG Cutter “Richard Dixon” proceeded toward the drug smuggling vessel. The USCG Cutter then launched an Over the Horizon (OTH) Zodiac type vessel from the Cutter with a four man crew.

The OTH vessel interdicted the 25-foot Yola type drug smuggling vessel operating in international waters northeast of the Dominican Republic.  The drug smugglers attempted to jettison most of the cocaine when they spotted the USCG OTH vessel. The four man Coast Guard crew recovered approximately 182 kilograms of cocaine in the water and on board the drug smuggling vessel. The cocaine had a retail value of nearly $30 million dollars in the United States.

The trial occurred before United States District Court Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock on June 27 and June 28, 2019. The case was prosecuted by George F. May, Deputy Criminal Chief and Luis F. Peral, Lead Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Attorney. Appellate Chief Scott Gray also provided invaluable assistance on the case.

 United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Anthony Crusoe, a 42 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced to 37 months of incarceration for possession of a Taurus 9mm pistol.

On March 28, 2019, Crusoe entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that on April 9, 2018, Mary Safford went to Rountree Outdoors in Selma, Alabama and filled out ATF Form 4473 so she could buy a 9mm pistol.  On ATF Form 4473, Safford said that she was the transferee/buyer of the firearm knowing that was not true.  In truth and in fact she was buying the firearm for Anthony Crusoe who she knew was a convicted felon.  This untruthful statement was material to the lawfulness of the sale of the firearm.  Safford was a straw purchaser of the firearm.  On August 22, 2018, law enforcement officers attempted to execute an arrest warrant issued for Anthony Crusoe.  They traveled to his home in Selma, Alabama.  Some officers went to the front door and other officers went to the area behind the house.  The front door officers knocked on the front door.  No one answered.  A few minutes later, the behind the house officers, observed Crusoe attempting to get into a vehicle that was parked behind his house while holding a blue duffel bag.  Officers attempted to arrest Crusoe and he fled but was apprehended a short time later hiding in some bushes with the blue duffel bag.  Crusoe was arrested and the Taurus pistol was found inside the blue duffle bag.   At the time, Crusoe was a felon, due to his previous conviction for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 1st Degree on February 13, 2003. Crusoe told law enforcement officers that he gave Safford $260 to buy the firearm for him after he picked it out and told her which firearm to buy.  Safford told law enforcement officers that she purchased the firearm and within a week of the purchase, Crusoe was in possession of it.

Officers of the Selma, AL Police Department along with special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Rodney Blythe, a 49 year old resident of Selma, Alabama was sentenced to 11 months of incarceration after his supervised release term was revoked.
On July 11, 2019, Blythe admitted in open court that was convicted in the Municipal Court of Steele, Alabama of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.  United States District Court Judge Terry Moorer then revoked Blythe’s supervised release and admonished him telling Blythe that he placed innocent unsuspecting members of the community in danger by his conduct. Judge Moorer then sentenced Blythe to 11 months incarceration followed by 48 months of supervised release. The terms of his supervised release include alcohol counseling and complete alcohol abstinence.   
Blyther was supervised by Jason Estes, Probation Officer, United States Probation Office, Southern District of Alabama.   The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that United States District Court Chief Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Patty Janelle Reddick on June 21, 2019 to serve a term of imprisonment of 30 months followed by 5 years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine in violation of 21 USC § 846.  The defendant previously entered a guilty plea with the Court on September 20, 2018.
 
In December of 2016, a cooperating informant (C/I) in Mobile, Alabama ordered methamphetamine from a broker for a source of supply from California.  A deal was made to purchase eight ounces methamphetamine from the source of supply.  The C/I, who was dealing with the broker, told an undercover officer to drive to a local gas station where the broker had arranged for the delivery of the methamphetamine that was ordered from California.  The defendant, Patty Janelle Reddick, arrived at the gas station to deliver the methamphetamine.  Police Officers witnessed the defendant deliver the methamphetamine to the undercover officer and leave the location.  The defendant lied when she was initially confronted by law enforcement regarding the narcotics transaction.  However, the defendant was captured on a recorded telephone call after the drug delivery stating words to the effect that she believed the person she delivered the methamphetamine to was an undercover officer.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Mobile Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief, Assistant United States Attorney George F. May for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama. The case was investigated and prosecuted under the DOJ’s specially funded strategy and program, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that United States District Court Chief Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced co-defendants Ernestine Arlecia Brazile, Taralicia Petrice Witherspoon, and Nicole Lasha Lewis on June 14, 2019 for their roles in conducting a drug conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine in violation of 21 USC § 846.  Brazile and Witherspoon were each ordered to serve a term of imprisonment of 121 months followed by 5 years of supervised release.  Lewis received a time served sentence followed by 3 years of supervised release.  The defendants’ guilty pleas were accepted by the Court on February 19, 2019.

In October 2017, a Confidential Informant (CI) informed police officers from the Mobile Police Department (MPD) that he/she could buy methamphetamine from a female from Pensacola.  MPD police officers contacted the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to assist in the investigation and an undercover MPD officer (UC) was introduced to Ernestine Arlecia Brazile by the CI and five controlled buys were made between October 2017 and January 2018.  The defendants were very consistent in their actions during each of the five sales of methamphetamine to the UC.  During each sale, Brazile would drive to Mobile in a vehicle that was registered to her co-defendant, Nicole Lasha Lewis.   While Brazile drove the vehicle, Lewis would ride in the front passenger and Taralicia Petrice Witherspoon would ride in the back seat during the trips to Mobile.
 
The three defendants would meet the UC at the same gas station in Mobile County.  During each drug buy, Brazile would get into the UC’s vehicle front passenger seat and Witherspoon would get in the back seat of the UC’s vehicle.  At that point, the UC would provide the money to Witherspoon and Witherspoon would provide the methamphetamine to the UC.  Each buy was set up via phone calls and/or text messages from the CI to Brazile to order the methamphetamine.  Although Lewis stayed in the passenger seat of her vehicle as the drug deals were being brokered, she would later confess that she knew drug transactions were taking place and she allowed her vehicle to be used for all of the drug deals.  The total amount of methamphetamine that the three defendants conspired among themselves and others to distribute and sell was approximately 420 grams of pure (Ice) methamphetamine.
 
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Mobile Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief, Assistant United States Attorney George F. May and Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence J. Bullard for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that Randall Keith Midkiff, age 37, of Mobile, Alabama, was sentenced today after earlier pleading guilty to a count charging violation of 18 USC Section 2422(b), attempted enticement of a child.   

As part of his plea agreement, Midkiff admitted that he met an adult woman on an internet dating site and engaged in a sexual conversation with her.  He then asked the woman if she would allow him to have sex with her 9 year old daughter.  She told him no and reported him to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.   Midkiff persisted in texting and told the woman that they would marry if she would allow him to have sexual relations with the child twice a week.  Midkiff was arrested when he drove to Washington County. 

Midkiff additionally admitted that in 2017 he was called to repair a broken air conditioner in Mobile.  At that time, he met an adult woman and began to text her.  The woman disclosed that she had a 14 year old daughter.  Midkiff contacted the child on Facebook and began to groom her by telling her that she was pretty.  He then began to contact her through an application called Kik.  During these conversations, he asked her to meet him for sex and told the child that he would pick her up and take her to some place private.  He also told the child that he would move in with the mother so they could have sex at home.  Simultaneously, he was telling the mother that he would move in with her and take care of her and her family.
   
At sentencing, the United States recommended a sentence of thirty years.  Judge Callie V. S. Granade found that a thirty year sentence was appropriate, and ordered that when released from prison, Midkiff be supervised by the United States Probation Office for the rest of his life. Midkiff will be required to register as a sex offender. 

This case was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Clarke County Sheriff's Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office and AUSA Maria E. Murphy.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Frederick Edward Patterson, Jr., 45, of Theodore, Alabama, was sentenced in federal court today, on drug and gun charges.  Patterson pled guilty to the two charges, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during or in relation to a drug trafficking felony, on March 7, 2019.

United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed a 75 month sentence of imprisonment in Patterson’s case this morning, consisting of 15 months on the drug charge to run consecutively to 60 months on the gun charge.  The judge ordered that Patterson serve a total of five years on supervised release when he completes his prison term, during which time he will be required to undergo testing and treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.  No fine was imposed, but the judge ordered that Patterson pay $200 in special mandatory assessments. 

The case was investigated by the Mobile Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria A. Bedwell.   

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Isaiah Jarrod White, 31, from Eight Mile, Alabama, was sentenced in federal court on May 20, 2019, for his participation in a series of armed robberies in the Mobile area.  White pled guilty to two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count charging felon in possession of a firearm.  White pled guilty to the three charges in February of 2019. 

United States District Court Judge Callie V. S. Granade imposed a sentence totaling 214 months, consisting of 84 months on each of the brandishing counts to run consecutively to each other, and 46 months on the felon in possession count, which also will run consecutively to the other sentences.  White will undergo mental health treatment, and counseling and treatment for drug and alcohol abuse while he is in prison.  He was ordered to pay $2,139.74 in restitution to the victims of the robberies he committed.  When he is released from prison, White will be placed on supervised release for five years, during which he will remain in treatment for mental health, and drug and alcohol testing and treatment.  The probation office will assist in the collection of restitution.  The judge also ordered that White pay $300 in mandatory special assessments, but no fine was imposed. 

The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Task Force, the Prichard Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that United States District Court Senior Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced John Willis Jones on April 18, 2019 to the 57 months in prison for his possession of a firearm as a prior convicted felon.

According to court documents, on October 3, 2018, Prichard Police Department narcotic investigators observed John Willis Jones running down the street with a gun in his hand.  When investigators made contact with Jones, he was compliant and immediately stated he had a firearm in the waistband of his pants.  Jones told investigators he just shot at his nephew over a family dispute where one of his nephews pointed a firearm at another one of Jones’ nephews.  Once taken into custody, Jones showed officers where the shooting took place.  Investigators recovered three shell casings from the crime scene that matched the caliber of the firearm that was recovered from the defendant.  After waiving his Miranda rights during a post arrest interview, Jones admitted that he knew he was not supposed to possess a gun as a convicted felon, but that his family was worth going back to prison. 

The defendant had previously been convicted of Possession of Marijuana in June of 2018 and Possession of a Short Barreled Shotgun from July 1995, and his rights to possess a firearm had not been restored at the time of the October 3, 2018 incident.

The Mobile County Street Enforcement Narcotics Team, Prichard Police Department, Mobile Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Mobile Field office investigated this case.  Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Baugh prosecuted the case for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that United States District Court Terry F. Moorer accepted the guilty plea of Tee-Henry Wulu Currens, 22, on May 23, 2019, to the violation of 18 United States Code 2421-Transporting Any Individual in Interstate Commerce Intending to that Individual Engage in Prostitution.

In January 2019, Currens first met the female victim (FV) while she was working as a prostitute in Jacksonville, Florida, initially becoming her client.  Soon after, Currens volunteered to work as his victim’s driver and provide her with security. The FV told investigators that Currens became abusive, controlling, and forced her to meet with clients, and Currens would subsequently keep all the money from the trafficking event.  The FV stated that Currens would force her to have sex with clients and that he would physically beat her if she refused to be trafficked.
 
On or about March 1, 2019, Currens drove the FV from Panama City, Florida to the Mobile, Alabama area for the purpose of trafficking her during Mardi Gras celebrations.
 
On March 02, 2019, the Robertsdale Police Department received a 911 call from the FV, who had managed to get away from Currens during a stop at a local gas station.   The FV reported that she had been kidnapped by Currens out of Florida and brought to Alabama to engage in prostitution.    Upon their arrival, Robertsdale Police noted the FV was visually upset and had bruising on her head, face, and legs consistent with assault.
 
Currens made post Miranda statements to law enforcement where he admitted to the FV’s account of how the two had met. Currens also admitted that the two were from Florida and travelling to Mobile for the purpose of having the FV engage in prostitution.  He stated they had argued while in Florida, where the FV had asked that he leave, but Currens refused.

The Robertsdale Police Department, Department of Homeland Security, Mobile Field Office investigated this case.  “Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, and the threats and abuse inflicted on these particular victims only adds to the heinous nature of the crime,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Nick S. Annan. “HSI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to find and prosecute criminal traffickers while ensuring the victims of this terrible crime are rescued and get the care they need.” Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Baugh prosecuted the case for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces today that a federal jury in Mobile, Alabama found defendant Mack Doak, 51, and his wife, co-defendant Jaycee Doak, 41, guilty on all charges in a child exploitation case spanning multiple jurisdictions. Chief United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose presided over the trial, which started on May 20, 2019 and ended three days later. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on August 30, 2019. Mack Doak faces a mandatory minimum sentence of thirty years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Jaycee Doak faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

On August 31, 2018, a federal grand jury for the Southern District of Alabama indicted the defendants on one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a), a statute that criminalizes the transportation of minors across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The grand jury returned a 9-count superseding indictment on March 29, 2019, charging the defendants with six counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a) and Mack Doak with three counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 2241(c), a statute that criminalizes aggravated sexual abuse by prohibiting the crossing of a state line with intent to engage in a sexual act with a child under the age of twelve.

The jury heard the below evidence at trial. Three child victims were abused for years by the defendants. The victims testified at trial that Mack Doak had sexually abused them in Texas, Florida, and Alabama and that they had disclosed the sexual abuse to Jaycee Doak, who was herself physically and verbally abusive and had tried to cover-up the sexual abuse.

In 2012, Mack Doak began sexually abusing Victims 1-3 in Rosharon, Texas. Victim 1 testified that she told Jaycee Doak back when the abuse started in Texas that Mack Doak had raped her. Jaycee Doak insisted that Victim 1 not tell anyone because disclosure of the abuse would be ruinous. One witness testified that Jaycee Doak told her about Victim 1’s rape allegation and that Jaycee Doak told the witness not to tell anyone. The witness testified that she urged Jaycee Doak to report the abuse and take Victim 1 to a doctor but that Jaycee Doak did neither. Another witness testified that she herself was raped by Mack Doak years earlier and that she had disclosed the abuse to the defendants in 2012. Another witness testified that around March 2013, after allegations of Mack Doak’s sexual abuse had begun to surface, Mack Doak had a pistol in his hand at his home and had threatened suicide, telling the witness, “I did something really bad and I’m not going to jail for it.”

In early 2014, the defendants moved from Rosharon to Butler, Alabama and then in August 2014 relocated to Pinellas Park, Florida, where Mack Doak continued to sexually abuse the victims. The defendants moved in November 2016 to Thomasville, Alabama, where the abuse persisted. The jury heard testimony that Mack Doak would periodically call a victim into his bedroom, close the door, and play loud music, and that the victim would appear upset after exiting the room. One witness testified that he saw Mack Doak sexually abusing Victim 2 one morning at the defendants’ home in Thomasville, and that Mack Doak saw him and told him to return to bed and not discuss what he had seen. After less than a year in Thomasville, the defendants moved to Monroeville, Alabama, where the sexual abuse continued and Jaycee Doak’s physical and verbal abuse escalated.

In early February 2018, the Monroeville Police Department received information about the sexual abuse. On February 4, a police investigator and a Monroe County Department of Human Resources caseworker visited the victims, who disclosed the abuse and indicated that they were unsafe in the defendants’ care. The next day, the defendants were arrested on state charges for rape, incest, and sexual abuse. On February 8, the victims were forensically interviewed at a child advocacy center in Brewton, Alabama and elaborated upon the abuse. Victim 1 told her interviewer that she had been sexually abused alongside a mat in the basement area of the defendants’ home in Monroeville. On February 9, the police executed a search warrant at the defendants’ home and seized physical evidence, including the mat. The police later took buccal samples from Mack Doak and the victims and sent the samples and the mat to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) laboratory in Quantico, Virginia for testing. An FBI forensic examiner testified at trial that the likelihood ratios were very high that the mat contained Mack Doak’s semen and Victim 1’s DNA. Moreover, a pediatrician who had physically examined the victims testified that they showed signs of having been sexually abused.

After the jury’s verdicts, United States Attorney Richard W. Moore said, “Our federal prosecutors and our law enforcement partners are highly-skilled and persistent when we find evidence of child sex abuse. These cases demand our very best prosecution and investigation efforts and the jury in this particular case seemed to have no difficulty in determining that the defendants were guilty as charged. We will continue to bring to justice those who would molest our most vulnerable victims such as the children in this case. I want to thank our three prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Murphy, Sinan Kalayoglu, and Kacey Chappelear, our prosecution support team from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the agents and officers who investigated this case. They did a fantastic job.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge James Jewell stated, “The men and women of the FBI will continue to work with our state and local partners to serve the victims of these horrific crimes and see to it that justice is served. There is no place for this type of behavior in our society and the jury’s verdicts of guilty were a victory for law enforcement and most deservedly the victims.”

The FBI, the Monroeville Police Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Sinan Kalayoglu, Kacey Chappelear, and Maria Murphy are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that James Jerome Reed, 36, of Eight Mile, Alabama was sentenced in federal court to a term of 160 months imprisonment for his involvement in drug distribution and firearms violations.  Reed, having been previously convicted of drug felonies in Mobile County Circuit Court, pled guilty to the charges of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during or in relation to a drug trafficking felony in September of 2018.  United States District Court Judge William H. Steele imposed the sentence following a hearing conducted on May 21, 2019.

The judge ordered that Reed serve 100 months imprisonment on the drug charge and the felon in possession charge, with the sentences running concurrently.  As for the remaining gun charge, the judge ordered that Reed serve 60 months imprisonment consecutively as required by the statute, for a total term of 160 months behind bars.  When he is released from custody, Reed will serve a total of 5 years on supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $300 in special mandatory assessments, but no fine was imposed. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Mobile Police Department.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.

      United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that United States District Court Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Cornelius Darrell Curtis, on May 20, 2019, to 60 months for the violation of 18 United States Code Section 924(c), Using, Carrying, or Possessing a Firearm During or in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime.
      On May 2, 2018 members of the Prichard Narcotics Unit made an initial traffic stop of  Curtis in the area of Rebel Road and Anderson, in Prichard, Alabama, when they observed him make a right turn onto Main Street without using a turn signal.  Curtis was the sole occupant of the vehicle.  When officers approached, they noticed several baggies on the front seat.  Upon closer examination, officers noted the content of the baggies included marijuana.  They also recovered an additional baggie from the center console containing crack cocaine, and more cocaine in Curtis’s hand. 
      Prichard Police later searched the vehicle and recovered a digital scale with remnants of both cocaine and marijuana residue on it, along with two bottles of codeine syrup in the passenger seat.  Officers also recovered a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun and $3,346.00 in cash from the floorboard and passenger seat.  As officers continued to search his vehicle, Curtis shouted, “Man that’s all of it, you got all I had.”  When asked by the officers how much money he had in his possession, Curtis responded, “About three or four bands.”
Curtis had previous felony convictions from the Circuit Court of Mobile, Alabama for Possession of Controlled Substances; Receiving Stolen Property, Assault and Possession of a Pistol by a Forbidden Person. 
      The Prichard Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, Mobile Field Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Baugh prosecuted the case for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.
      A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama at http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdal/
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United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Altavious Demon Jackson, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced in federal court to a term of 87 months imprisonment for his illegal possession of ammunition.  Jackson, a previously convicted felon, may not legally possession firearms or ammunition under federal law.  He pled guilty to the charge of being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition in January of 2019.  United States District Court Judge Callie V. S. Granade imposed the sentence following a hearing conducted on May 22, 2019.

The judge ordered that Jackson serve 87 months imprisonment.  When he is released from custody, Jackson will serve a total of 3 years on supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $100 in special mandatory assessments, but no fine was imposed. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.

The United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) today awarded $1 million to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to help law enforcement agencies respond to the increased homicides and gang crime in the city of Selma and the surrounding area. BJA invited ADECA, an established state agency with a recognized ability to oversee emergency law enforcement situations, to apply for funding under the Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Program (EFLEA). The EFLEA Program allows BJA to make funds available to a state government to respond effectively to an “uncommon situation,” one that is, or threatens to become, serious or epidemic in scope, and in which state and local resources are inadequate to protect the lives and property of citizens. The funding through this award will provide much needed equipment for law enforcement officers and overtime expenses to perform saturation patrols in high crime areas. This program supports the Department of Justice’s mission of reducing crime and supporting public safety personnel in the context of an emergency situation.

A separate Department of Justice initiative, known as Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), targets and aims to lower violent crime across America. This effort has been largely successful and violent crime rates have fallen in most major cities in the United States over the past two years. The model to reduce violent crime is very simple: identify the “trigger pullers” who are the worst of the worst, and who are inflicting the most damage in our communities, and then prosecute them for the federal crimes that they commit. In the Southern District of Alabama, that means primarily prosecuting convicted felons who illegally possess firearms.

The PSN effort in Selma, Alabama is called “Weed and Seed” and is led by United States Attorney Richard W. Moore, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, with a Steering Committee of local civic leaders, city officials, law enforcement, educators, and business leaders.
The “Weed and Seed” concept was used previously to successfully reduce violent crime in Selma and it is a recognized brand in the community. “Weed and Seed” integrates law enforcement, community policing, prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood restoration efforts. It is a comprehensive approach intended to empower citizens to take back their city from criminals.

The Director of Selma’s Weed and Seed Steering Committee is retired Judge Maggie Drake-Peterson. “Judge Drake” was selected as the Director because of her commitment to Selma, her accomplishments as a state court judge in Michigan, and because she is a respected leader in Selma. Judge Drake was born in Orville, Alabama, and graduated from Keith High School as Valedictorian. Before graduating from law school, Judge Drake was a police officer in Detroit, Michigan. She was later elected to the Circuit Court bench in Wayne County, Michigan, where she served until she retired and returned to her home in Orville, Alabama. Since returning home, Judge Drake has been involved with a number of local community activities, including the Library Board of Selma/Dallas County, and the West Dallas Water Authority where she serves as the Chairperson. She is married to the Rev. Dr. Joe J. Peterson, a retired minister. Judge Drake is a trusted advisor to United States Attorney Richard Moore, and a strong leader for the Weed and Seed Steering Committee.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has steadily prosecuted federal criminal offenses in Selma with the help and collaboration of the FBI, ATF, DEA, the U.S. Marshal’s Office, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, the Selma Police Department, and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. Since early-2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted 62 defendants who were located in Selma. These defendants have received an average sentence of approximately 47 months. Nineteen defendants who have been charged in a criminal drug conspiracy are set for trial in October 2019.
United States Attorney Richard W. Moore said, “This award from our federal partners in the Department of Justice will enable law enforcement to ramp up the arrest and prosecution of a violent element in Selma that has, for too long, made the city unsafe. We will not rest until Selma is safe again and order is restored. Selma is known as the ‘Queen of the Black Belt’ and is now poised to once again become a vibrant community on the Alabama River. The citizens of Selma have demonstrated that they have the will to take back their city. Our local, state and federal law enforcement partners are working tirelessly with us to eradicate violent crime in Selma, and to ‘seed’ in preventive measures that will make our progress sustainable. Selma has a bright future, due in part to the emergency funding to law enforcement.”

The $1 million dollar award will be administered locally by the Dallas County Commission, which is chaired by Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn. Moore said, “The citizens of Dallas County and the City of Selma should be grateful that Judge Nunn and the Dallas County Commission are assuming this important function that will result in safer streets for both the County and Selma.”

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Michael Watts, a 40 year old resident of Selma, Alabama was sentenced to 27 months of incarceration for possession of two firearms after previously being convicted of two felonies, namely, Assault 1st and Shooting into an Occupied Building.

On February 19, 2019, Watts entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that on December 3, 2018, at approximately 10:50 pm, Dallas County, AL Sheriff’s Office deputies were working at a driver’s license checkpoint on County Road 81 in the Selma, Alabama area. Watts approached the check point driving a Grey Ford Crown Victoria and was asked to provide his driver’s license. When deputies asked for Watts’ driver’s license they could smell marijuana coming for inside the vehicle. Watts and the other occupant in the vehicle (the front seat passenger) were then asked to exit the vehicle. Both did so without incident.   Before officers could conduct a safety check of Watts, he told them, “I have two guns on me.”   The firearms were seized from his front pocket. They are described as a Smith & Wesson, Airweight, .38 caliber pistol, and an FIE, Titan, .25 caliber pistol.
 
Deputies of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office along with special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Anthony Ellis, a 34 year old resident of Selma, Alabama was sentenced to 100 months of incarceration for possession of a .38 caliber Rohm pistol after being convicted of a felony.

On January 28, 2019, Ellis was found guilty after a jury trial in Selma, Alabama being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The evidence adduced at trial showed that on December 16, 2017, Selma police officers were on special patrol in an area of the city where violent crimes frequently occurred.  They approached the intersection of The Small Street Inn and L.L. Anderson Avenue.   They observed Anthony Jerome Ellis and a relative standing in front of a silver Ford Taurus parked at that location.  When they observed the officers approach them, they moved to the passenger side of the vehicle and both bent down as if they were hiding something or placing something under the vehicle.  Anthony Ellis was in the area of the back passenger door and his relative was at the back passenger quarter panel or behind the back tire.

The Officers approached with firearms drawn and instructed them to show their hands.  Anthony Ellis moved to the front of the vehicle and his relative moved to the back.  Both Ellis and his relative were detained for further investigation.  Both were patted down for officer safety. The officers looked under the car.  They discovered a loaded RG .38 caliber revolver containing three live rounds by the back passenger door in front of the tire, where Anthony Ellis was observed stooping behind the vehicle as the officers approached.  That gun is more specifically described as a Rohm .38 caliber revolver.  Where his relative stooped behind the vehicle, Officers found a Smith &Wesson .40 caliber pistol.  Both guns were collected as evidence and Ellis and his relative were transported to the police department for questioning after advice of rights.  A background investigation of Ellis showed that he had been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was charged accordingly.  His relative was not a felon and was not charged with a federal crime.

While Ellis awaited trial, he was housed in the Monroe County, Alabama jail.  While there, he sought the help and advice of an inmate who had been convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Ellis told this inmate the facts of his case and asked the inmate what he thought of Ellis’ chances of “beating” the case.  Ellis also told the inmate that “the cops didn’t actually see” [him] toss the gun under the car.”   Ellis further stated that he was going to “tell the cops [he] bent down to pick up a lighter or to tie his shoe.”  Ellis bragged that he was going to have his trial in Selma, “because everybody up there knows [him] and they won’t convict [him] in Selma.”

While only one felony conviction was made know to the jury during trial, Ellis had five felony convictions at the time he possessed the .38 caliber Rohm pistol.  They include, Assault First Degree, on November 13, 2008, in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama; Escape Second Degree, on July 30, 2007, in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama; Certain Persons Forbidden to Carry a Firearm, on June 6, 2017, in the Dallas County, Alabama, District Court; Assault Second Degree, on October 29, 2014, in the Dallas County, Alabama, Circuit Court; and Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle, on June 9, 2011, in the Dallas County, Alabama, Circuit Court.
Officers of the Selma, Alabama Police Department along with special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that on April 12, 2019, Kendarius Devan Lucious of Citronelle, Alabama was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person before Chief Judge Kristi DuBose. Lucious is a felon from prior convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Lucious was found to be in possession of two firearms. On January 23, 2019, Lucious pled guilty to the offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
 
On September 3, 2018, Citronelle Police Officers responded to call at an apartment complex stating that Lucious was armed and causing problems. Officers had been called to the apartment several times before but Lucious always eluded police. A relative of Lucious told police that Lucious had a shotgun and Lucious stated he was going to make police kill him. As police entered the apartment, they saw Lucious with a shotgun. Officers ordered Lucious several times to show his hands with no avail. As officers moved closer Lucious fired two 12 gauge shotgun rounds at the officers. The officers returned fire, striking Lucious. A revolver was found in Lucious’ pants pocket.
 
U.S. Attorney Richard Moore said: “This case demonstrates why convicted felons should not be allowed to possess a firearm. The defendant fired on law enforcement officers which we will not tolerate. If you shoot at a cop we will come after you with everything that we have. You do not shoot a cop. We intend to spread the word and convince criminals to think twice about harming those who put their lives on the line for all of us. You do not shoot a cop.”

Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations along with officers of the Citronelle Police Office, Alabama office investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney=s Office for prosecution. The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Michael D. Anderson.

 United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that Devon J. Donald, a 26 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced to one year of probation after conviction for embezzling from the U.S. mail.
 
On January 17, 2019, Donald entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that from on or about December 9, 2017, and continuing through on or about February 20, 2018, Donald was a mail carrier employed by the United States Postal Service. Another postal employee, Unterria J. Rogers, asked Donald to remove six priority mail parcels from the U. S. mail stream and give them to him.  All of the packages Rogers requested were entrusted to Donald for delivery to the addressees along his mail delivery route.  Donald removed the packages from the U. S. mail stream and gave them to Rogers.   Rogers requested the packages because there were quantities of marijuana inside of each one.  Donald admitted  purchasing marijuana from Rogers in the past.  Donald also confessed to embezzling the priority mail packages from the U. S. mail.
  
Inspectors of the United States Postal Inspection Service along with special agents of the United States Postal Service/Office of the Inspector General investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Shyria Powell, a 43 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama and her husband, William Powell, Jr., a 46 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama were sentenced to a mandatory two years in prison and one day in prison, respectively, and ordered to pay full restitution totaling $255,134.54.

On January 23, 2019, pursuant to separate plea agreements both Shyria Powell and William Powell entered guilty pleas.  Shyria Powell pled guilty to aggravated identity theft and William Powell pled guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud. They both admitted in open court that from on or about October 2, 2012 to on or about December 23, 2012, Shyria Powell was employed as a bookkeeper by American Sew and Vac.  As the bookkeeper of the company, she had access to the business bank accounts and credit cards with Wells Fargo Bank.  Shyria Powell drafted approximately 281 checks made payable to herself and others from the bank accounts and then forged the signature of the person authorized to issue such checks.  Seven of those checks were made payable to her husband, William Powell, and totaled $4,350.00. William Powell received and cashed those seven checks and used the money for his personal use and enjoyment.  At the time, William Powell received and cashed those checks, he knew he was not entitled to the money and that it was fraudulently obtained.  This was William Powell’s only involvement in Shyria Powell’s fraudulent scheme. 

Shyria Powell also fraudulently charged personal expenses on the company debit and credit cards that were in the name of the company and its owner, E. T. H. that amounted to more than $1,000.  Through her unauthorized use of the bank account, the bank account debit and credit cards she caused a loss to Wells Fargo Bank and the owners of the company $255,134.54 (which includes the fraudulent checks to William Powell).  Text messages between Shyria Powell and the victims show Shyria Powell confessing to the forging of the approximately 281 checks and the fraudulent use of the debit and credit cards.   

Officers of the Mobile, Alabama police department and special agents of the United States Secret Service investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that Jeffrey Bernard Harris, age 40, of Selma, Alabama, was sentenced to the statutory maximum sentence of 120 months this week after earlier pleading guilty to one count charging a violation of 18 USC Section 922(g)(1), Prohibited Person (felon) in Possession of a Firearm.   

According to court records, on August 9, 2017, at approximately 4:55p.m., officers of the Selma Police Department responded to Wrenwood Trailer Park near lot #20 in reference to a fight call with one subject armed.  The caller reported that Harris was beating a man with his fist and with a firearm. The assault victim was later a passenger in a vehicle that Harris fired into several times while the vehicle was leaving the trailer park.  

When officers arrived at the trailer park, Harris was still there, near the entrance.  Law enforcement interviewed several witnesses who recounted the beating Harris had inflicted, as well as the multiple rounds he fired.  One round struck the victim in the jaw, exiting through his nose. Other rounds fired by Harris struck the front windshield and rear fender of the vehicle the victim was in.  A tenant of the trailer park informed officers that she found a bullet lodged in the wall behind her refrigerator.   The firearm Harris used was a Taurus PT 24/7 Pro .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun.   

Prior to August 9, 2017, Harris had been convicted of two counts of Robbery, First Degree and, one count of Receiving Stolen Property, First Degree.

The Selma Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigated this case.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Teanthony Terrell Lewis, 29, of Selma, Alabama, was sentenced today in federal court by United States District Court Judge William H. Steele to a term of 33 months imprisonment for his involvement in the illegal possession of a firearm by his brother, Christopher Reshawn Lewis.  Christopher Lewis remains a fugitive on the underlying federal gun charges.  Teanthony Terrell Lewis pled guilty to concealing and failing to report Christopher Lewis’ illegal possession of a firearm to appropriate authorities in December of 2018. 

In federal court in Mobile this morning, Judge Steele ordered that Lewis undergo drug treatment while he is in prison, that that he serve a period of one year on supervised release when he completes his sentence.  During that supervision, he will also be subject to drug testing and treatment.  Judge Steele ordered that Lewis pay a special mandatory assessment of $100 but did not impose a fine.  

The case was investigated by the Selma Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria A. Bedwell.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Shameka Mallory, a 40 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $874.42.

On December 19, 2018, Shameka Mallory entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that a cooperating citizen (CI) identified Mallory and her co-defendant, Shahid Abassi, as individuals he illegally sold cigarettes to in the past which allowed them to knowingly evade the taxes due on the cigarettes that was required by the Alabama Department of Revenue.  At that time, Abassi was the owner and operator of “Quick Stop Grocery.”

The ATF set up an undercover operation designed to confirm this conduct and to show that it continued.  The ATF agents used the CI to act in an undercover capacity along with an undercover law enforcement officer to sell quantities of contraband cigarettes on numerous occasions to Mallory and Abassi that did not have a visible paid cigarette tax stamp affixed.  Mallory and Abassi bought the contraband cigarettes cheap and then sold them for retail prices to patrons of their store for a profit of much more than they would have received had the cigarettes been purchased lawfully and taxed by the State of Alabama prior to retail sale.

From April 13, 2018, through June 6, 2018, the CI sold approximately 520 packs of untaxed Newport cigarettes to Mallory and Abassi for various amounts of money on six different occasions while they were at their place of business called “Quick Stop Grocery,” located at 353 Cody Road, Mobile, Alabama, 36608.  The tax loss to the Internal Revenue Service is $523.42.  The tax loss to the State of Alabama is $351.00.

Officers of the Mobile, Alabama Police Department and special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Sakhoeuth Khan, a 33 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,093.05.

On December 18, 2018, Sakhoeuth Khan entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that in 2018, A cooperating citizen (CI) identified Khan as an individual he illegally sold cigarettes to in the past, which allowed Khan to knowingly evade the taxes due on the cigarettes that was required by the Alabama Dept. of Revenue.

The ATF set up an undercover operation designed to confirm this conduct and to show that it continued.  The ATF agents used the CI to act in an undercover capacity along with an undercover law enforcement officer to sell quantities of contraband cigarettes on numerous occasions to Khan that did not have a visible paid cigarette tax stamp affixed.

From December 5, 2017 through May 24, 2018, the CI sold approximately 650 packs of untaxed Newport cigarettes to Khan for various amounts of money on five different occasions while Khan was at Two Lions, her place of business located at 763 Summerville Street, Mobile, Alabama.  The amount of cigarettes sold to Khan exceeded 10,000.  The tax loss to the State of Alabama is $438.76.  The tax loss to the Internal Revenue Service is $654.29.    

Officers of the Mobile, Alabama Police Department and special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Shahid Abassi, a 42 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $622.17.

On December 19, 2018, Shahid Abassi entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that a cooperating citizen (CI) identified co-defendant Shameka Mallory and Abassi as individuals he illegally sold cigarettes to in the past which allowed them to knowingly evade the taxes due on the cigarettes that was required by the Alabama Department of Revenue. At that time, Abassi was the owner and operator of “Quick Stop Grocery.”

The ATF set up an undercover operation designed to confirm this conduct and to show that it continues.  The ATF agents used the CI to act in an undercover capacity along with an undercover law enforcement officer to sell quantities of contraband cigarettes on numerous occasions to Mallory and Abassi that did not have a visible paid cigarette tax stamp affixed.  Mallory and Abassi bought the contraband cigarettes cheap and then sold them for retail prices to patrons of the store for a profit of much more than they would have received had the cigarettes been purchased lawfully and taxed by the State of Alabama prior to retail sale.

From April 13, 2018, through June 6, 2018, the CI sold 370 packs of untaxed Newport cigarettes to Mallory and Abassi for various amounts of money on six different occasions while they were at their place of business called “Quick Stop Grocery,” located at 353 Cody Road, Mobile, Alabama, 36608.  The tax loss to the Internal Revenue Service is $372.42.  The tax loss to the State of Alabama is $249.75.

Officers of the Mobile, Alabama Police Department and special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces today that United States District Judge William H. Steele sentenced defendant Stephen Allen Mathes, 37, a resident of Mobile, Alabama, to twenty-four months imprisonment for bank robbery. As part of the sentence, the judge ordered that Mathes undergo three years of supervised release after finishing his term of imprisonment, pay a $100 mandatory special assessment, receive drug, alcohol, and mental health treatment as directed by the U.S. Probation Office, and pay restitution totaling $2,400 to the victim financial institution. 

According to documents filed with the court as part of his guilty plea, around 10:00am on August 31, 2018, a white male entered BBVA Compass, 6470 US Hwy 90, Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527, a federally insured bank. He was unmasked and gave a bank teller a robbery note that said, “This is a Robbery[.] Place all 50 & 100 Bills in a [sic] envelope [.] No funny money or marked bills & nobody gets hurt!” The teller asked if the male was serious about wanting to rob the bank. He said yes. The teller gave the male $2,400, and the robber left the bank. The suspect robbed the bank by means of intimidation but did not use a weapon. The robbery note was left on the teller’s side of the counter.

A Spanish Fort Police Department detective responded to the scene around 10:30am. The bank’s surveillance system captured the robbery, but no outside video of the offense was available. The police sent pictures of the suspect to local media. A person called the police and said he recognized the robber as Mathes. The police later learned that the robber went to BBVA Compass in Daphne before 10:00am on August 31.

In a photo line-up on September 4, 2018, the BBVA Compass bank teller in Spanish Fort who had interacted with the suspect identified Mathes as the robber. Later that day, the police obtained a state warrant to arrest Mathes.

On September 6, 2018, agents with the Spanish Fort Police Department and the FBI went to Mathes’s home in Mobile, Alabama. He was taken into custody without incident and agreed to be interviewed. Mathes was transported to FBI in Mobile and Mirandized. He waived Miranda and confessed to robbing BBVA Compass in Spanish Fort and to earlier visiting BBVA Compass in Daphne to open an account. Mathes said he entered the bank in Spanish Fort on August 31 with a robbery note that he had created earlier that day. Mathes also gave a written statement and consent for police to search his phone and apartment, where agents found the shoes he wore during the robbery.

On October 25, 2018, a federal grand jury for the Southern District of Alabama charged Mathes with one count of bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a). On December 27, 2018, Mathes pleaded guilty before District Judge Steele to the charge.  
 
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Spanish Fort Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Sinan Kalayoglu prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Thy Touch, a 45 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced to two months incarceration followed by two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,285.28

On December 28, 2018, Thy Touch entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that a cooperating citizen (CI) identified Touch as an individual he illegally sold cigarettes to in the past, which allowed Touch to knowingly evade the taxes due on the cigarettes that was required by The State of Alabama Dept. of Revenue.

The ATF set up an undercover operation designed to confirm this conduct and to show that it continues. The ATF agents used the CI to act in an undercover capacity along with an undercover law enforcement officer to sell quantities of contraband cigarettes on numerous occasions to Touch that did not have a visible paid cigarette tax stamp affixed.

From December 2, 2017 through March 20, 2018, the CI sold 1,359 packs of untaxed Newport and Kool cigarettes to Touch for various amounts of money on six different occasions while Touch simultaneously operated his convenience store called “Pride,” located 1910 St. Stephens Road, Mobile, Alabama.  The amount of cigarettes sold to Touch exceeded 10,000. The tax loss to the State of Alabama is $917.33.  The tax loss to the Internal Revenue Service is $1,367.95. 

Officers of the Mobile, Alabama Police Department and special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Jabrandon S. Lovett, a 28 year old resident of Mobile, Alabama was sentenced to 37 months of incarceration for possession of a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver after a 2013 Burglary 3rd  conviction and a 2010 Robbery  2nd conviction.

On November 19, 2018, Lovett entered a guilty plea and admitted in open court that on July 8, 2018, at approximately 9:45pm, Mobile County, AL deputies observed Lovett driving a vehicle that did not display a tag light, so they conducted a traffic stop.  As the deputies approached the vehicle, they smelled marijuana and counted four people in the vehicle. Deputies asked for and received Lovett’s driver’s license. Next, all four vehicle occupants were asked to exit the vehicle and they did. A probable cause search of the vehicle for illegal drugs was conducted and no illegal drugs were found. The passengers then told the deputies that they had smoked marijuana in the vehicle earlier but they no longer possessed any marijuana.

During the search, deputies found and opened a canvas strap bag that was around Lovett’s neck when the vehicle was stopped, but that Lovett removed and left inside the vehicle when he exited.  Inside the bag was a loaded Smith & Wesson, .38 caliber revolver, serial number 134942 that was not manufactured in Alabama.

On July 23, 2018, Lovett confessed to possessing the firearm. He stated that he bought the revolver approximately two years before and had if for protection but only fired it one time.  At that time Lovett had been convicted of two felonies, namely, Robbery 2nd Degree, on September 29, 2010, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, case number CC-10-1529 and Burglary 3rd Degree on October 2, 2013, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, case number CC-13-2483.

Deputies of the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and special agents of the FBI investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney=s Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Tyler McIlwain, a 20 year old resident of  Eight Mile, Alabama was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration for conspiring to steal and knowingly possess stolen firearms.

On November 29, 2018, McIlwain entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that on July 5, 2018, McIlwain and a cohort burglarized a home in Creola, Alabama.  During the burglary they stole four (4) firearms, namely, an Anderson, .30 caliber rifle, model 300 Blackout; an Anderson, .223 caliber rifle; an Anderson, .30 caliber rifle; and a Marlin, .22 caliber rifle.

Shortly after the burglary, a Creola police officer attempted to stop a red Nissan truck, registered to McIlwain, for speeding.  First the driver of the Nissan truck tried to flee by speeding up and attempting to elude the police following behind.  Next, the Nissan truck stopped and the three occupants inside jumped out and ran.  Two of the occupants were caught and one got away.  McIlwain and one other were caught.  All of the stolen firearms were recovered from the Nissan truck.  After waiving his Miranda Rights, McIlwain stated that he and a cohort burglarized the residence and stole the firearms.  He also stated that the other person in his vehicle was not involved.

Officers of the Creola, Alabama Police Department, deputies of the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and special agents of the FBI investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney=s Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney Gina S. Vann.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Jadarius Moore, a 25 year old resident of Selma, Alabama, was sentenced to 57 months of incarceration for possession of a .40 caliber Glock pistol.

On December 18, 2018, Moore entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement and admitted in open court that on January 19, 2018, a Selma, AL police officer saw Moore in the Vaughn Hospital parking lot driving a white Dodge truck.  The officer believed Moore had outstanding arrest warrants and attempted to stop him by activating the police vehicle’s emergency lights.  Moore sped away in his vehicle in an effort to flee the police.  As he fled, Moore threw a pistol and white substance out of the driver’s side window.  The officer then radioed that a gun and a white substance had been thrown out of Moore’s vehicle and the location of the items.  After speeding for a few blocks, Moore stopped the vehicle and fled on foot.  The Officer stopped and used a K-9 to track Moore.  After searching for approximately 100 yards, the K-9 located Moore under a vacant building.  Officers then called to Moore to come out and give himself up.  Moore did so and was arrested. The pistol was recovered but not the white substance as it was splattered in the wind.  The firearm was a .40 caliber Glock pistol.  Moore was previously convicted of Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 1st Degree, on September 29, 2014, in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama, case number CC-2014-000110.     

Officers of the Selma, Alabama Police Department along with special agents of the ATF investigated the case and brought it to the U. S. Attorney's Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney Gina S. Vann.