Southern District of Alabama

MOBILE, AL – A Mobile, Alabama, man was sentenced to 72 months in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice and possession of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, William Joshua Ikner was implicated in the federal investigation which began when a co-conspirator was stopped on the Interstate 65 in Saraland.  Police found methamphetamine and a gun in that vehicle.  As a result of information learned after the stop, Ikner and his co-defendant Angela Faye Keebler, were identified as distributors who had received  kilograms of methamphetamine brought to Mobile from Atlanta for distribution.  Ikner and Keebler were arrested at a residence on Graham Road South where investigators seized a gun, approximately $1,553 in cash and additional methamphetamine ice during a search of the premises.  Keebler pled guilty to the conspiracy charge and the gun charge in January of 2021 and was sentenced in May of 2022.  Ikner pled guilty in June of 2021 and was sentenced this week.
   
Senior United States District Court Judge William Steele imposed the 72-month sentence, consisting of 12 months and a day on the drug charge and 60 months on the gun charge, which will run consecutively.  The judge further ordered that Ikner would also serve five years on supervised release following his imprisonment.  As conditions of his supervision, Ikner will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of her person and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Ikner pay $200 in special assessments.  The firearm used during the commission of the offenses was ordered forfeited to the United States.

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

MOBILE, AL – A Springdale, Arkansas, man who led Saraland police and other law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase on Interstate 65 on July 9, 2021, was sentenced today to 210 months in federal prison for his participation in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice.  

According to court documents, 22-year-old Umberto Rosales Mendoza, was identified as the driver of the Honda Accord that was traveling 80 miles per hour on the interstate through Saraland, Alabama, near Exit 13 in Mobile County.  A Saraland police officer attempted to stop the vehicle after activating his blue lights and siren, but Mendoza abruptly changed lanes and exited the interstate at Celeste Road.  Mendoza ran the red light at the intersection and traveled at a high rate of speed onto Shelton Beach Road.  There, the passenger in the Honda threw out a black plastic trash bag later found to contain approximately 12 kilograms of methamphetamine ice when it was seized by the police.  Mendoza crossed into the opposite lane of traffic, passing some vehicles and running others off the road.  Mendoza continued to Interstate 65 southbound, and there reached speeds of 114 miles per hour, even passing vehicles in the left emergency lane.  Mendoza attempted to exit the interstate at the Dauphin Street exit, where he ran another red light and caused an innocent civilian to strike the Honda on the passenger side.  Mendoza the jumped out of the Honda and fled on foot across southbound Interstate 65, narrowly avoiding being hit by multiple vehicles before he was apprehended by a Saraland police officer.

Both Mendoza and his passenger, co-defendant Luis Alexander Guzman Calderon, also of Springdale, Arkansas, entered guilty pleas to the federal charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Jeffery U. Beaverstock imposed the 210-month sentence in Mendoza’s case this afternoon.  The judge further ordered that Mendoza would also serve five years on supervised release following his imprisonment.  As conditions of his supervision, Mendoza will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion, and he will undergo mental health testing and treatment.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Mendoza pay $100 in special assessments.   
 
The case was investigated by the Saraland Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

United States Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama announced that United States District Judge Callie V.S. Granade sentenced defendant Wesley Hodges, 24, to thirty years in prison for Production of Child Pornography and Distribution of Child Pornography offenses. Hodges entered a guilty plea to those offenses on March 3, 2022.

According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, in early June 2021, Hodges came to law enforcement’s attention because an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation Task Force Officer (“undercover TFO”) was conducting an investigation within a Kik messenger chat room dedicated to child pornography. On or about June 4, 2021, the undercover TFO observed Hodges share child pornography within that chat room. While in this chat room, Hodges stated he was from Alabama. A review of Hodges’s Kik profile showed a photograph of Hodges. The undercover TFO began a private one on one chat with Hodges in which Hodges shared additional child pornography. Hodges subsequently invited the undercover TFO to continue their conversation on Facebook Messenger. Hodges and the undercover TFO became “friends” on Facebook and began a private message thread. While privately chatting with the undercover TFO via Facebook Messenger, Hodges distributed several pornographic images and videos of a minor who was known to him. Hodges told the TFO that he knew the minor and could convince her to send pornographic images of herself.  Hodges initiated a group chat between himself, the undercover TFO, and the minor. The undercover TFO also messaged the minor privately to try to obtain information about her, potential abuse, and her location in order to initiate protective law enforcement action. Through investigation, law enforcement was able to determine Hodges’ identity and location. The undercover TFO communicated with local FBI and state law enforcement regarding his communications and swift plans for apprehension were made due to Hodges’ access to minors.  At the time of his arrest, Hodges was found to have thousands of images of child pornography.  Further investigation revealed that Hodges had been distributing images of child pornography in many online chatrooms.  The minor child was interviewed and confirmed that Hodges had been abusing her for years.  

The victim and her parents were present at the sentencing hearing and addressed the Court by submitting written letters.

Judge Granade imposed a thirty-year sentence of incarceration.  The judge also ordered Hodges to serve a lifetime term of supervised release upon his discharge from prison.  Judge Granade ordered that Hodges pay $29,294.00 in restitution to his victims and $300 in special assessments.  Hodges will be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison and is to have no contact with minors.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Monroeville Police Department, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Kacey Chappelear and Beth Stepan prosecuted 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. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources.
 

MOBILE, AL – An Evergreen man was sentenced today to three years of probation for threatening to injure an Evergreen police officer during a live radio broadcast.

According to court documents and evidence introduced at his trial, Luther James Upton, 74, threatened to injure the victim officer on May 18, 2021, during his morning radio show on 101.1 FM WPPG – The Power Pig. The jury heard evidence that Upton, then an elected Evergreen city councilman, was arrested by the victim officer in November 2020 for driving under the influence of alcohol and getting into a vehicular accident. Video of the DUI incident showed Upton attempting to use his position on the city council to pressure the victim officer not to arrest him. On the morning of the radio broadcast at issue, Upton referenced prior incidents involving the victim officer and said on the radio, among other things, “I dare him to stop me again. ‘Cuz when he pulls me over, I’m gonna put him down.” At his guilty plea hearing following one day of trial, Upton admitted that he meant to convey a true threat to injure the victim officer.

United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose ordered Upton to undergo mental health and substance abuse treatment while on probation. The court also ordered Upton to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sinan Kalayoglu and Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
 

MOBILE, AL – A Gainesville, Georgia, man was sentenced on May 27, 2022, to 15 years in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice.
 
According to court documents, Isaiah Daniel Lambert was identified during an investigation in which investigators used a confidential informant to make a controlled purchase of methamphetamine ice from him.  The investigation began in 2016 in Baldwin County, Alabama, and 13 defendants were arrested and prosecuted in federal court who implicated Lambert as their source of supply for methamphetamine ice.  Some of the drugs were brought to Mobile County for distribution, and some were brought to Baldwin County for distribution.  Court documents also reflect that Lambert himself traveled to Baldwin County and to Pensacola, Florida, to transport drugs and pick up drug money.  Lambert pled guilty to the conspiracy charge in federal court in Mobile in July of 2021.   He admitted he was responsible for the distribution of approximately 152 kilograms of methamphetamine ice.
    
United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose imposed the 15-year sentence.  The judge further ordered that Lambert would also serve five years on supervised release following his imprisonment.  As conditions of his supervision, Lambert will also undergo mental health counseling, testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Lambert pay $100 in special assessments.
   
The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Lexington, Kentucky man was sentenced today to two years of probation for conspiring to intrude into a competitor business’s protected computer system to steal information for his commercial advantage and financial gain.
According to court documents, Daniel Bruck LaCour, 33, operated a printing-services business called LaCour Printing Solutions, LLC (“LPS”) in Dothan, Alabama, from at least March 2016 to April 2017. One of LPS’s competitors was a printing-services company based in New York and Tennessee. The competitor printing company maintained a password-protected system of computers that contained its protected client account information.

In March 2016, LaCour recruited a former employee of the competing printing company to work for him at LPS. On March 28, 2016, the former employee sent LaCour a set of login credentials to access the competing company’s protected computer system without the company’s consent, authorization, or knowledge. Those login credentials included the email address and password of a legitimate employee of the competing company whose account had elevated privileges that allowed it to access customer account profiles, including sensitive pricing information.

Over a year-long period, LaCour repeatedly used the stolen credentials from a computer at his house in Dothan to intrude into the competing company’s computer system. LaCour fraudulently accessed more than 30 customer accounts before the company cut off his access to the system after discovering his intrusion on April 4, 2017. During the period of the intrusion, the competing printing company lost business to LPS from numerous existing and potential clients due to LaCour’s unauthorized use of the other company’s sensitive pricing information.

Skype messages extracted from LaCour’s computer revealed how he obtained the login credentials and used them to steal the company’s information for LPS’s benefit. In one such message, LaCour stated, “I am trying to destroy [the victim company] . . . that’s my life long goal.”

Chief United States District Judge Emily C. Marks of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama ordered LaCour to pay a $3,500 fine and to undergo mental health treatment while on probation, during which time he will be subject to credit restrictions. The court also ordered LaCour to pay $40,000 in victim restitution to the competing company and $100 in special assessments.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL—A Mobile County woman, Jessica Defloren Tubb, aka “Allie,” 37, was sentenced on May 12, 2022 to 15 years in prison for drug crimes, including actions that caused the overdose death of Kelsey Johnston.

Tubb was charged with 41 others in October 2020 for her involvement with the Crossley Hill drug trafficking organization which operated in Mobile County and elsewhere, distributing various controlled substances, including heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, Xanax, Oxycodone, Opana, and Roxicodone to customers in Southern Alabama and elsewhere.  Tubb plead guilty in March, 2021 to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute. Tubb also admitted in her guilty plea that she injected fentanyl into Kelsey Johnston that caused her death. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer handed down the sentence.

Testimony at the March 2022 jury trial of William Grant Owens, aka “Whip,” established that Tubb operated as the “right-hand man” or “do-girl” for Owens. The testimony established that, among other things, Tubb sold drugs for Owens, held drugs for him, operated as a human tester of the drugs, particularly the heroin and fentanyl, and that she injected Owens’ customers with drugs.
 
The trial testimony further established that Owens directed Tubb to obtain the fentanyl and bring it to him on October 11, 2018, at the Rode Way Inn, in Tillman’s Corner. Owens prepared the fentanyl on a spoon and had Tubb inject Ms. Johnston at approximately 3:00 to 4:00 AM. Almost instantly, Ms. Johnston lost consciousness and was struggling to breathe. Dr. Cameron Snider, a Forensic Pathologist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, testified that fentanyl attacks the lungs causing them to fill with fluid and impairs the respiratory system, which ultimately caused the death of Ms. Johnston’s death in this case. An eyewitness, who was also a drug user, testified that she attempted to assist Johnston and could hear a disturbing gurgling/gasping sound from her lungs. Neither Owens nor Tubb sought any medical assistance for Johnston and they ultimately left her in the hotel room after she overdosed. The body of the deceased Kelsey Johnston was found the next morning at approximately 11:00 when housekeeping personnel came in to clean the room.

Owens was convicted at trial and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Moorer on June 30, 2022.

The investigation and prosecution of this case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mobile Police Department and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.  The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, and the Saraland Police Department also provided key investigative support to the investigation. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys George F. May and Luis F. Peral, Lead OCDETF Attorney.

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/

MOBILE, AL – A former City of Creola police officer pleaded guilty today to depriving a man of his right to be free from the use of unreasonable force while in custody.

According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, on April 21, 2021, Gary Lynn Davis, 54, of Creola, while acting as a City of Creola police officer, struck an arrestee in the face with his knee while the arrestee, identified by his initials J.B., was on his knees with shackles on his wrists and ankles.  The blow knocked out one of J.B.’s teeth and caused vision issues.  At the time of the incident, J.B. had been held on traffic violations for about four days and had become loud and unruly in the city jail.  J.B. had money in his bank account to make bond but could not arrange for someone outside the jail to access his account.  Davis threatened to put J.B. in a straitjacket, which the department had, but instead belly-chained J.B.’s wrists to his waist and shackled his ankles. J.B. complied with Davis’s demands to get into position so that Davis could shackle him.  There was also another officer who was available to assist Davis in getting J.B. under control but Davis did not call him.  When J.B. continued to be unruly Davis went next door to the city fire department and borrowed a rope.  Davis then unsuccessfully attempted to hog tie J.B. J.B. resisted and the two wrestled on the floor.  Davis also attempted unsuccessfully to choke J.B. to try to render him unconscious.  A surveillance camera captured the struggle. Then Davis stood up in the cell doorway for a few seconds as J.B. knelt before him. The surveillance camera then captured Davis deliver a forceful blow to J.B.’s face with his knee.  Davis’s blow sent J.B. careening backwards and he writhed in pain on the floor.  When the police chief and another officer found out about the incident, the officer took J.B. to an ATM and allowed him to withdraw money to make bail.  The officer then took J.B. to a city magistrate and he made bail.
 
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) conducted an investigation of the incident, which then referred it to FBI Mobile for further investigation and consideration for federal prosecution.  Davis faces state charges of Assault, Second Degree, and Attempted Murder, arising from the incident.

Davis pleaded guilty to depriving J.B. of the right to be free of the deprivation of liberty without due process of law, which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29, 2022, and faces 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama and the FBI made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Lankford is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Florida man was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Mark Allen Snellgrove, 29, of Crestview, Florida, was arrested on February 24, 2021, after he led police on a high speed chase that resulted in injuries to two officers. That morning, officers had responded to a report of a suspicious truck loitering at a gas station in Bay Minette, Alabama. Upon arrival at the station, officers spoke with Snellgrove, the truck’s driver. Snellgrove gave officers a false name and failed to produce a valid identification.

While officers spoke with him, Snellgrove started his truck and floored the gas pedal, forcing an officer who was standing nearby to hang onto the steering wheel of the truck while it accelerated toward a light pole. Snellgrove’s truck hit another officer’s parked car and slammed into the pole, the impact of which caused serious injuries to the officer who was clinging to the truck’s steering wheel. That officer tased Snellgrove, who snatched the taser leads out of his chest and sped his truck in reverse into oncoming traffic the wrong way down Hand Avenue, a busy four-lane thoroughfare.

During the twenty-minute chase that ensued, Snellgrove forced many bystander cars off the road, attempted to ram a police vehicle head-on; drove through numerous stop signs and lighted intersections; drove through residential yards; crashed through a mailbox; and sped through a ditch to avoid a spike strip. At times during the pursuit, Snellgrove reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.

Officers eventually ended the chase in a wooded driveway of a private residence by ramming into Snellgrove’s truck and pinning it in place. Snellgrove refused verbal commands to get out of the truck and had to be taken down by a tracking dog. A passenger in the truck, codefendant Rodger Anthony Manning, also refused to get out and bit an officer on the finger as he resisted arrest.

Along the pursuit route, officers found a stolen 9mm pistol that had been thrown from the passenger side of Snellgrove’s truck during the chase. Officers also seized a stolen .45-caliber pistol from the truck near where Manning had been sitting in the backseat. Forensic analysis of the guns revealed Snellgrove’s DNA on the 9mm pistol and Manning’s DNA on the .45-caliber pistol. At the time Snellgrove possessed the pistol, he knew he had been convicted of felony drug offenses in Okaloosa County, Florida in 2019. Snellgrove’s felony convictions rendered his possession of the pistol illegal under federal law.

Senior United States District Judge Callie V.S. Granade ordered Snellgrove to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Granade ordered Snellgrove to pay $100 in special assessments.

Snellgrove faces several pending state criminal charges in Baldwin County, Alabama, including first-degree assault, attempting to elude police, reckless endangerment, and resisting arrest. Judge Granade ordered a portion of Snellgrove’s federal sentence to run consecutively to any punishment he may receive in the related state cases. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless he is proven guilty at trial.

In April 2022, Manning pleaded guilty to illegally possessing the stolen .45-caliber pistol found in Snellgrove’s truck. Manning is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Granade on July 13, 2022.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bay Minette Police Department, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Virginia man was sentenced today to three years and a month in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Michael Gray Golding, 34, was arrested by Foley Police Department (FPD) officers on May 5, 2021.  On that day, FDP responded to a 911 call reporting that Golding was at a hotel in Foley, Alabama with an active arrest warrant out of Virginia and likely armed.  FPD encountered Golding in his vehicle in the hotel parking lot.  FPD verified that Golding had an extraditable warrant for his arrest out of Virginia for contempt of court in a felony case where he failed to appear for sentencing.  FPD secured the area where Golding was parked and ordered Golding to exit the vehicle.  After approximately one hour of ordering Golding to exit the vehicle, Golding got out and was taken into custody without incident.
 
FPD officers searched Golding’s vehicle and found a Glock, Model 23, .40-caliber pistol, a sawed-off Remington Model 870 shotgun, and ammunition.  Brass knuckles, drug paraphernalia, and drugs for personal use were also found in the vehicle.

Prior to possessing these two guns, Golding had been convicted of multiple felonies, including possession of a controlled substance, eluding law enforcement, and possession of a drug with intent to distribute.  Golding failed to appear for his sentencing for his possession with intent to distribute case in Virginia, which led to his active arrest warrant.  Under federal law, Golding is prohibiting from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his felony convictions.

Senior United States District Court Judge William H. Steele ordered Golding to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he may participate in substance abuse treatment.  The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered Golding to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Foley Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Kopf prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer has sentenced Cameron Dashawn Ford, of Birmingham, Alabama, to 108 months’ imprisonment on federal arson charges.

According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, in June of 2021, Ford started a fire in an act of revenge against his then-girlfriend at the Lighthouse Condominium complex in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  The condominium complex was occupied by guests at the time, and the act of arson was extremely dangerous to the community. As part of his guilty plea, Ford admitted that he had live-streamed himself setting the fire on social media.

“Thanks to the quick work of the Gulf Shores Fire Department, the damage from Ford’s crime was limited,” said United States Attorney Sean P. Costello. “Working with our partners at ATF, we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute anyone who endangers our community in this manner.”

“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives works collaboratively with our state, local and federal partners to investigate fires and crimes of arson. These violent acts needlessly jeopardize the safety and security of our community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Mickey French. “We will always be persistent in our efforts to pursue those individuals who recklessly perform acts that exhibit lack of self-control and total disregard for human life.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gulf Shores Fire Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasee Heisterhagen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL –Two members of Darrin Southall’s drug trafficking organization were sentenced in federal court on May 13, 2022, making a total of six defendants sentenced thus far.  Joining Southall, Eric Alonzo Windham, Terrance Santez Malik Watkins and Willie Demarcus Oliver were Shamartess Monique Whitsett, 26, and Randale Demorris Hinton, 40, both of Mobile.   Whitsett and Hinton entered guilty pleas to the charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in September of 2021.

According to court documents, Southall ran a continuing criminal enterprise involving the distribution of massive amounts of controlled substances in the Mobile, Alabama, area, and the laundering of drug proceeds through bank accounts and nominees. Court documents identified Whitsett as a courier recruited by Southall to handle and transport drug money in exchange for deliveries of cocaine and heroin.  Hinton, Southall’s cousin, was a large-scale cocaine distributor who also manufactured and distributed crack cocaine.  According to evidence adduced at Hinton’s sentencing hearing, Hinton also carried firearms to defend members of the organization and the drugs and drug proceeds generated through drug sales.
   
United States District Court Judge Kristi Dubose imposed a sentence of 135 months imprisonment in Hinton’s case. The judge imposed a sentence of 15 months in Whitsett’s case, citing her lesser role in the offense and the relatively short time frame of her participation in the massive conspircy.  The judge further ordered that each defendant would also serve five years on supervised release following their imprisonment.  As conditions of their supervision, each defendant will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and they will be subject to a search of their persons and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that each defendant pay $100 in special assessments.  Each defendant’s interest in a long list of seized property was ordered forfeited to the United States.
 
The case was investigated by the Mobile Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Saraland Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A federal jury convicted an Irvington man this week of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute it.

According to court documents and evidence presented at a two-day trial, Vincent Vo Tran, 26, was arrested in May 2021 after one of his coconspirators led sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase that ended at Tran’s trailer on Two Mile Court in Irvington. During a search of the trailer, deputies recovered, among other things, a cache of guns and ammunition, including a Draco AK-style pistol found sitting underneath a digital scale covered in methamphetamine residue. Deputies arrested Tran on various state charges relating to drugs and stolen property found at his trailer. The jury reviewed recorded calls and emails that Tran later sent from Mobile County Metro Jail in which he admitted, among other things, that (i) the guns seized from his trailer were his; (ii) he had hidden evidence before deputies searched his trailer; and (iii) he possessed “dope” inside the jail.

Tran was released from jail after pleading guilty to several felony charges in September 2021. Later, in November 2021, sheriff’s deputies executed another search warrant at a house that Tran shared with his girlfriend and coconspirator on Azalea Road in Mobile. While making entry into the house, deputies heard Tran running through the backyard into a wooded area but were unable to capture him. Tran’s girlfriend also attempted to run out of the back of the house, but deputies stopped her and ordered her back into the living room. Two young children were also inside the house.

Deputies then searched the house and found large amounts of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Inside an unlocked ottoman in the living room, deputies recovered eight separate baggies containing a total of more than half a pound of 99.2% pure methamphetamine. Near the drugs, deputies found a CashApp debit card and a casino player’s card issued in Tran’s name. Deputies also seized, among other things, more than 15 pounds of vacuum sealed marijuana, 3.5 grams cocaine, bags of THC-infused gummies stuffed inside a children’s playpen, and Tran’s cell phone. The jury reviewed evidence of drug distribution extracted from Tran’s phone, including text messages, drug ledgers, and photos and videos of drugs taken with the phone.

Deputies ultimately arrested Tran a week later, after he again attempted to flee from the house on Azalea Road. This time, however, a tracking canine apprehended Tran after he refused several verbal commands to stop running. Following a brief struggle, deputies handcuffed Tran and found a baggie in his shirt pocket containing 5.7 grams of 96.8% pure methamphetamine. Tran admitted in a post-Miranda interview that he had recently been buying ounces of methamphetamine and named his supplier.

Tran’s crimes carry potential sentences of ten years to life in prison. He will be sentenced by United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose in August 2022.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Lawrence Bullard are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL –Three members of Darrin Southall’s drug trafficking organization have been sentenced in federal court.  Two of them will serve 10 years in federal prison and one of them will serve 5 years in federal prison.
  
According to court documents, Southall ran a continuing criminal enterprise involving the distribution of massive amounts of controlled substances in the Mobile, Alabama, area, and the laundering of drug proceeds through bank accounts and nominees.  Sentenced on April 28 were Eric Alonzo Windham, also known as “Dumbo,” 49, of Prichard, Alabama; Terrance Santez Malik Watkins, also known as “YSD Capp,” 25, of Mobile; and Willie Demarcus Oliver, also known as “Ill Will,” 31 of Mobile.   Watkins and Oliver entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine during September of 2021, and Windham entered a guilty plea to the same charge in October of 2021.  Court documents identified Oliver as a street dealer, implicated when he sold cocaine to an undercover informant.  Watkins was identified as a large-scale dealer who supplied Oliver and others with cocaine for distribution and who acted as an enforcer for Southall.  Windham was identified as a courier working for Southall, who drove drug money to Texas to pay for loads of cocaine and returned to Mobile with cocaine.  According to evidence adduced at Windham’s sentencing hearing, his residence on Myrtlewood Boulevard in Prichard facilitated the drug distribution activity as a stash house and a location where kilograms from the cocaine loads were distributed to others. 

United States District Court Judge Kristi DuBose imposed a sentence of 10 years in Watkins and Windham’s cases.  The judge imposed a sentence of 5 years in Oliver’s case.  The judge further ordered that each defendant would also serve five years on supervised release following their imprisonment.  As conditions of their supervision, each defendant will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and they will be subject to a search of their persons and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that each defendant pay $100 in special assessments.  Each defendant’s interest in a long list of seized property was ordered forfeited to the United States.

The case was investigated by the Mobile Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Saraland Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – On April 25, 2022, United States District Court Chief Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Esmeralda Vidana to ten years imprisonment for methamphetamine trafficking.

According to court documents during an investigation of drug trafficking, on October 1, 2019, a known drug trafficker, Jose Eduardo Bravo Rodriguez, was surveilled by law enforcement agents leaving Vidana’s home in Summerdale. Alabama. Agents later performed a traffic stop of Rodriguez and caught him with one ounce of methamphetamine.  Rodriguez was prosecuted by the United States in a separate drug trafficking case.

Agents next visited Vidana to speak to her. During the conversation Vidana confessed that she possessed a large amount of methamphetamine in her home that she was selling. Agents recovered approximately 680 grams of methamphetamine. Vidana further confessed that the drugs came from a larger batch of 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine that she had previously obtained and had been selling. Vidana plead guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in September 2021.

In addition to the ten-year sentence, United States District Court Chief Judge Jeffery Beaverstock further ordered that Vidana would also serve five years on supervised release following her imprisonment.  As conditions of her supervision, Vidana will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and she will be subject to a search of her person and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Vidana pay $100 in special assessments.

United States Attorney Sean P. Costello stated: “This case is yet another great example of effective coordination between federal and state law enforcement to stop drug trafficking in the Southern District of Alabama. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute these cases vigorously.”
 
The case was investigated the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney George May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Semmes man was sentenced to seven years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Noah Jones, 23, was arrested by Mobile Police Department officers on December 26, 2020 after he refused to stop for a traffic violation and led police on a high speed chase through a residential area of Mobile. During the pursuit, Jones lost control of the SUV that he was driving, slammed into a tree, bailed out of the vehicle, and ran on foot through several backyards before police caught and arrested him. Jones told officers that he ran because he was out on bond for a pending state murder charge.

Between the driver’s seat and center console of the SUV that Jones had wrecked, officers found a Glock 9mm pistol, which was equipped with a fully loaded 30-round high-capacity magazine. Jones admitted that he possessed the Glock pistol. On the back floorboard of the SUV, police found two additional fully loaded 9mm pistols, which Jones denied possessing. Jones was convicted of second degree robbery in Mobile County Circuit Court in 2017. His prior felony robbery conviction rendered his possession of firearms illegal under federal law.

United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Jones to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Jones to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – After a two-day trial in United States District Court in Mobile, a federal jury on Wednesday, April 21, announced a guilty verdict against a man stopped on I-10 in Baldwin County in June 2020 and found in possession of about $400,000.00 worth of methamphetamine, also known as “ice”.
 
According to court documents and trial testimony, Enrique Miranda Martinez, 47, a Cuban national residing in Miami, accompanied by Yuir Maikel Hernandez Perez, 39, a Cuban national residing in Orlando, drove through Baldwin County on I-10 on the morning of June 23, 2020.  A member of the Baldwin County Special Operations Division pulled over a Mercedes SUV driven by Martinez after he committed a traffic violation.  The Special Operations Division is tasked with interdicting drug trafficking on I-10 and I-65, and are specially trained to look for signs that travelers may be engaged in drug trafficking.
 
After the Special Operations Officer approached the SUV’s passenger side, he noted that an ice chest on the back seat behind Martinez showed signs that its lining had been removed and replaced.  Another member of the Special Operations Division joined the investigation to interview the passenger, Perez.  The interviews of the Martinez and Perez yielded further clues that the pair had conflicting stories about their travels.   A subsequent search of the SUV revealed that the ice chest had a secret compartment to transport methamphetamine, but was disguised as one holding only ice and drinks.
Further investigation revealed that Martinez had bought a vacuum sealer at a Tucson, Arizona, Wal Mart two days before the pair was stopped in Baldwin County.  The approximately 8.2 pounds of methamphetamine—also known as “ice” due to its purity—found in the ice chest was vacuum sealed with the same brand of vacuum sealer that Martinez had bought in Arizona.

At trial, a DEA Special Agent testified that the evidence was consistent with drug smugglers going to a Tucson-area stash house to vacuum seal the methamphetamine to shrink it for further transportation back to the Miami, Florida, area, where someone could likely double their money as the price increases the further it travels from the border.  The jury deliberated less than an hour before rendering their guilty verdict on the pair of charges against Martinez: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

U. S Attorney Costello said, “This is a great example of effective coordination between federal and state law enforcement to stop drug traffickers from delivering their poison as they passed on I-10.  I’m grateful for the excellent work of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and its Special Operations Division, and the DEA, as they work with our talented prosecutors to take drug smugglers and their product off the streets.” 
The Court will sentence Martinez on July 21.  He faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison to a maximum of life in prison and may also be subject to sentencing enhancements for testifying falsely at trial.  Perez, who pleaded guilty the morning of trial, will be sentenced on July 18.

The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division, other investigators of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
 
Assistant United States Attorneys George May and Alex Lankford prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Maine man was sentenced to 63 months in prison for theft of government property and bankruptcy fraud.

According to court documents, Brandon LeRoss Bailey, 43, of Holden, Maine, stole $818,918.36 from the U.S. Air Force over a more than six-year period. Bailey, a former Major in the Air Force, was dismissed from the military in 2010 after being convicted of several drug and theft offenses at a general court martial. Due to an administrative error, however, Bailey was mistakenly kept on the Air Force’s payroll from October 2010 to March 2017.

Rather than notify the Air Force of the error, Bailey took advantage of the mistake and continued to receive unearned Air Force payroll checks and periodic healthcare at military treatment facilities. At various times, he accessed his former Air Force MyPay account, an online personnel page, to obtain annual W 2s and monthly payroll statements. Bailey periodically used these documents to falsely represent his income and employment status to different entities, including but not limited to the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for personal financial gain. Bailey also falsely portrayed himself publicly as an active-duty Air Force member and relied on Air Force documents to open bank accounts and obtain loans, credit cards, and other items of value that he was not lawfully entitled to receive.

In February 2019, Bailey filed for bankruptcy in the Southern District of Alabama. In connection with his bankruptcy case, Bailey knowingly and fraudulently concealed certain property from the bankruptcy administrator. The concealed property included tens of thousands of dollars in rental property income, consulting and teaching income from a private university in Alabama, and income from Disabled American Veterans.
United States Attorney Sean P. Costello said, “This defendant’s selfish theft of taxpayer money is the antithesis of the honor and integrity shown by those who serve our country. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable whose who take advantage of the armed forces and the taxpayers.”

Paul W. Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the Mobile Division of the FBI said, “Mr. Bailey’s criminal acts betrayed his oath of service to the Air Force and undermined our court system.  The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and hold accountable those who commit similar crimes.” 

“Mr. Bailey deceptively gained entitlement to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, by manipulating and concealing material information. He not only defrauded SSA, but also improperly received other federal benefits intended for those who served our country with honor. His sentence reflects our commitment to protect Social Security benefits and to hold accountable those who misuse its programs,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “I thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations for their investigative efforts. I also thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.”

Senior United States District Judge Callie V.S. Granade ordered Bailey to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment and will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Granade ordered Bailey to pay $1,454,623.28 in victim restitution and $200 in special assessments. The court also ordered that Bailey forfeit the property he obtained with the stolen funds, including a 4-bedroom house in Holden, Maine; 78 acres of real property in Butler, Alabama; and various investment and bank accounts.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 405 investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sinan Kalayoglu and Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A federal jury convicted a Mobile man for conspiracy and distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, William Grant Owens, a/k/a “Whip,” a/k/a “Unc,” 55, distributed and conspired with others to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin beginning in January of 2016. The jury further found that Owens’s Owens’ participation in the conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute caused the overdose death of Kelsey Johnston. Owens was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and seven counts of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute.

The evidence presented at trial showed that the Crossley Hills drug trafficking organization, of which Owens was a member, operated in Mobile County, and elsewhere, distributing various controlled substances, including heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, Xanax, oxycodone, and oxymorphone to customers in south Alabama and elsewhere. Relying on regional and local sources of supply to acquire controlled substances for its distribution, the Crossley Hills DTO distributed a substantial amount of the heroin in Mobile County, Alabama. These heroin sales led to numerous overdoses resulting in hospitalizations and deaths, including that of Kelsey Johnston on October 11, 2018.

Thirty-eight co-conspirators have pleaded guilty. Owens was convicted after a five-day trial. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30 and faces a minimum sentence of twenty years and up to life in prison. United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Sean P. Costello, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, Mobile Police Chief Paul O. Prine, Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran, DEA Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley, HSI Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, ATF Special Agent in Charge Mickey French, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown made the announcement.
   
The investigation and prosecution of this case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mobile Police Department and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.  The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, and the Saraland Police Department also provided key investigative support to the investigation.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luis F. Peral, Lead OCDETF Attorney, and Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.

United States Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama announced that United States District Judge Kristi DuBose sentenced defendant James Salac, 58, to 235 months in prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor. Salac entered a guilty plea to those offenses on December 22, 2021.

According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, in November 2019, Salac was a member of an online messaging group comprised of individuals who expressed sexual attraction to children.  Also in the group was an undercover officer, who was posing as a mother of a nine-year-old girl.  Salac instigated a conversation with the undercover officer, and eventually expressed an interest in engaging in sexual activity with the nine-year-old girl.  Salac articulated in graphic detail the sex acts he wished to perform on the girl.  The undercover officer then provided Salac with a phone number purported to belong to the girl so that Salac could communicate with the nine-year-old directly.  The officer then began posing as the nine-year-old.  When he believed he was communicating with a nine-year-old, Salac sent her a graphic photo of his genitals, detailed what sexual acts he would like to engage in with her, and directed her how to take photos of her genitalia to send to him.

Further investigation revealed that Salac was a member of a number of online communities.  He had engaged in similar conversations with other undercover officers, including one posing as the father of a ten-year-old girl and one posing as a fourteen-year-old girl.  Salac also distributed images of child pornography in his online groups and to undercover officers.

Judge DuBose imposed a 235 months sentence of incarceration.  The judge also ordered Salac to serve a 20 year term of supervised release upon his discharge from prison.  Judge DuBose ordered that Salac pay $5,100 in special assessments.  Salac will be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted 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. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources.

MOBILE, AL – A Lillian, Alabama, man was sentenced on March 14, 2022, to 24 months in prison for his illegal possession of firearms after being convicted of a felony.

According to court documents, Alvin Dewayne Pope, 43, was identified during an investigation in which investigators used a confidential informant to make controlled purchases of marijuana from him.  A search warrant was obtained for Pope’s residence.  Investigators discovered and seized four guns from his residence, which was the location where the marijuana was sold to the informant.  Pope had been previously convicted of selling, manufacturing, delivering, or possessing a controlled substance with intent to sell in Escambia County, Florida, in 2013.  Pope pled guilty to the charge in October of 2020.

United States District Court Judge Jeffery Beaverstock imposed the 24-month sentence and further ordered that Pope would also serve three years on supervised release following his imprisonment.  As conditions of his supervision, Pope will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Pope pay $100 in special assessments.

The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Bay Minette, Alabama, woman was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice.
 
According to court documents, Candice Lanette Cox, 42, was identified during an investigation in which investigators used confidential informants to make controlled purchases of methamphetamine ice from her.  During the investigation, Cox was confronted by authorities and admitted her involvement.  A search warrant was obtained for Cox’s residence.  Investigators discovered and seized additional methamphetamine ice and approximately $2,000 in buy money paid to Cox during the undercover controlled purchases of methamphetamine ice.  Cox pled guilty to the conspiracy charge in October of 2020. 
  
United States District Court Judge Jeffery Beaverstock imposed the 27-month sentence and further ordered that Cox would also serve five years on supervised release following her imprisonment.  As conditions of his supervision, Cox will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and she will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Cox pay $100 in special assessments.   

The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Bay Minette, Alabama, man was sentenced today to 168 months in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice and possession of a firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, Von Clay Bennett, Jr., 25, was identified during an investigation in which investigators used confidential informants to make controlled purchases of methamphetamine ice from him.  The informants were equipped with audio and video devices to record the transactions with Bennett, which occurred in both Mobile and Baldwin Counties.  A search warrant was obtained for Bennett’s residence in Mobile and investigators discovered and seized additional methamphetamine ice and five pistols.  Bennett pled guilty to the conspiracy charge and the gun charge in October of 2020.

United States District Court Judge Jeffery Beaverstock imposed the 168-month sentence, consisting of 108 months on the drug charge and 60 months on the gun charge, which will run consecutively.  The judge further ordered that Bennett would also serve five years on supervised release following his imprisonment.  As conditions of his supervision, Bennett will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Bennett pay $200 in special assessments.  All the firearms used during the commission of the offenses were ordered forfeited to the United States.

The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Robertsdale man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Joshua John Soudelier, 42, was arrested during a traffic stop by Foley Police Department officers on December 15, 2020 for not having a court-ordered ignition interlock device installed on his car. While taking him into custody, officers asked Soudelier if he had anything in the car that he was not supposed to have. Soudelier admitted that he had a gun—a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol—which officers found wedged between the driver’s seat and center console of the car. Soudelier was previously convicted of felony assault with a deadly weapon in Los Angeles, California. His prior felony conviction rendered his possession of the pistol illegal under federal law.

United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Soudelier to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Soudelier to pay $100 in special assessments.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Foley Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL-- On February 10, 2022, United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Edwin Jerome Owens, aka “EJ”, from Grand Bay, Alabama to 264 months imprisonment for his role in a local Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO). The 36 year old Owens pled guilty in July, 2021 to conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Following his release from prison, Owens will be supervised by a United States Probation Officer for five years. The judge did not impose a fine, but ordered that Owens pay $100 in special assessments. Owens was a member of the “Crossley Hill” DTO, and was among 42 people originally charged with offenses to include conspiracy to distribute and distribution of the drugs heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine. Further investigation led to the indictments of additional defendants connected to the DTO.

Documents filed in connection with his guilty plea and testimony at his sentencing hearing established that in approximately 2019 and 2020, Owens conspired with numerous other persons to distribute heroin. Some of the heroin sold by Owens contained fentanyl. During the conspiracy Owens made numerous trips to the New Orleans area and Biloxi to obtain heroin and fentanyl from his sources of supply in New Orleans. Owens also brought human heroin testers along with him on a number of trips to use and thereby test the heroin for quality. In all, the court found that Owens was responsible for more than 1.2 kilograms of heroin and more than 700 grams of fentanyl for sentencing purposes. Testimony at the sentencing established that fentanyl is a very powerful, and potentially deadly, drug that is often used in one tenth of a gram quantities, or less, because it is so powerful.

 The Court also held Owens responsible for being an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that involved five or more participants, which provided for a greater advisory sentence under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The investigation and prosecution of this case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mobile Police Department and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, and the Saraland Police Department also provided key investigative support to the investigation.
 
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys George F. May and Luis F. Peral (Lead Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Attorney).

MOBILE, AL – A Bon Secour, Alabama, man was sentenced to 241 months in prison for two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm in furtherance of those crimes.
  
Jacob Steven Miller, 26, pled guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of carrying a firearm in furtherance of those drug crimes in May of 2020.  Court documents showed that Miller had two run-ins with law enforcement and each time he had methamphetamine and a gun with him.  In May of 2019, Miller wrecked a stolen motorcycle while attempting to flee from law enforcement.  He attempted to run from the scene with a backpack but due to a knee injury he was unable to leave the scene on foot.  The backpack contained about a ounce of methamphetamine and a gun.  In February of 2020, Miller was a passenger in a vehicle that an Alabama state trooper attempted to stop for Miller’s failure to wear a seat belt.  The driver of the vehicle accelerated, and the trooper pursued until other officers joined the chase and forced the vehicle to stop.  Miller threw a black bag out of the vehicle that was recovered by troopers.  It contained 730 grams of methamphetamine, other drug-related evidence, approximately $3,500 in cash and a gun.  Miller had been implicated by other defendants convicted in federal court as a methamphetamine distributor in Baldwin County.
     
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations Safe Streets Task Force.
   
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Mexican national was sentenced today to 121 months in federal prison after a federal jury convicted him in October 2021 for possessing with intent to distribute 16 kilograms of cocaine.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Gilberto Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 44, of Houston, Texas, was driving a flatbed truck from Houston to Atlanta, Georgia when he was stopped by a Baldwin County sheriff’s deputy for a traffic violation on Interstate 65. The jury heard evidence that on January 25, 2021, Gonzalez had driven the truck from Texas to Alabama while his passenger and codefendant, Daniel Eric Corona, slept. Gonzalez and Corona lacked proper paperwork for the load that they were purporting to haul and had no valid proof of insurance.

During a consent search of the truck, deputies pried open a locked compartment and found a duffel bag containing 16 individually wrapped bundles of cocaine weighing more than 35 pounds in total. According to expert testimony presented at trial, the cocaine had a wholesale value of more than $500,000 and a street value of more than $6 million. The jury also reviewed evidence from Gonzalez’s cell phone containing images of cocaine and WhatsApp messages discussing “kilos” and prices of cocaine.

United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Gonzalez to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo testing for substance abuse. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Gonzalez to pay $100 in special assessments.

Corona pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in September 2021. Judge Moorer sentenced him to serve a 70-month prison sentence in December 2021.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Deborah Griffin prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – An Atmore man was sentenced to five years in prison for being a felon in possession of a sawed-off rifle.

According to court documents, Cedric Jarrell Pierce, 28, was arrested on November 24, 2020 after he refused to stop for a speeding violation and led sheriff’s deputies on a 13-mile high-speed chase that began in Robertsdale, Alabama. The chase ended in Bay Minette, Alabama after deputies used a spike strip to disable Pierce’s car. Deputies arrested Pierce and searched the car. Underneath the passenger seat, deputies found a Remington .22-caliber rifle with a 14-inch barrel, which is less than the barrel length of 16 inches required by federal law. After recovering the rifle, deputies spoke with Pierce, who admitted that he ran from law enforcement because he knew he had the rifle and was not allowed to possess it as a convicted felon.

Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ordered Pierce to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Beaverstock ordered Pierce to pay $100 in special assessments.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A native of El Salvador living illegally in Springfield, Arkansas, was sentenced today in federal court to 135 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 12 kilograms of methamphetamine.  
 
According to court documents, Luis Alexander Guzman Calderon, also known as Bryan Jose Pinto Sandoval, was arrested after a high-speed automobile chase in Mobile County during July of 2021 on I-65 in the Saraland area involving several local law enforcement agencies.  The chase ended when Guzman Calderon’s vehicle, a Honda Civic, wrecked near Dauphin Street in Mobile.  During the pursuit, Calderon, who was the passenger in the vehicle, threw out a black plastic trash bag containing 12 kilograms of methamphetamine.  Police recovered the bag and the drugs.  The driver of the Honda, Umberto Rosales Mendoza, has also entered a guilty plea to the federal conspiracy charge and will be sentenced on March 7, 2022.
  
Chief United States District Court Judge Jeffery U. Beaverstock imposed a sentence of 135 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a supervised release term of five years.  As a condition of supervision, Guzman Calderon will be delivered to a duly authorized immigration official for deportation consideration.  As other conditions of his supervision, Guzman Calderon will undergo testing and treatment for drug abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Guzman Calderon pay $100 in special assessments. 

The case was investigated by the Saraland Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

United States Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey Beaverstock sentenced defendant Nathaniel Blancher, 38, to forty years in prison for Transportation of a Minor for Criminal Sexual Activity, Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct, and Penalties for Registered Sex Offenders. Blancher entered a guilty plea to those offenses on October 28, 2021.

According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, on May 29, 2021, Nathaniel Blancher, a convicted sex offender, left his home in Mobile and drove to Louisville, Kentucky, and picked up a 14-year-old girl and returned to Mobile with her.  When the girl’s parents discovered that she was missing, they immediately contacted law enforcement in Kentucky.  Kentucky law enforcement was able to find Blancher’s cell phone number on the Caller ID, and they used that information to track Blancher back to Mobile.  Mobile Police Department officers responded to Blancher’s home.  Blancher initially denied that the girl was with him, but eventually relented and let officers into his home where they found the girl hiding in the bathroom.  The girl was forensically interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center in Mobile.  She admitted that she had sexual intercourse with Blancher, who is 38 years old, in his apartment when they arrived in Mobile. She also admitted to being in an online relationship with Blancher for approximately three years.  She reported that Blancher knew she was 14 years old and younger during the course of their relationship.  She said that Blancher had previously traveled to Louisville approximately one month earlier, and they had engaged in sex acts at a hotel in Louisville.

Blancher previously had been convicted of Possession of Child Pornography on October 21, 2020.  As a result of this conviction, Blancher was required to register as a sex offender.  Blancher was on probation for that offense when he traveled to Kentucky to pick up the 14-year-old girl.

The victim and her parents were present at the sentencing hearing and addressed the Court by submitting written letters.

Chief Judge Beaverstock imposed a forty year sentence of incarceration.  The judge also ordered Blancher to serve a twenty-five year term of supervised release upon his discharge from prison.  Judge Beaverstock ordered that Blancher pay $10,400 in special assessments.  Blancher will be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mobile Police Department, and the Louisville Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted 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. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources.

MOBILE, AL – A Bay Minette, Alabama, man was sentenced on January 24, 2022, to 25 months in prison for his illegal possession of ammunition after a prior federal conviction for being an illegal drug user in possession of a firearm.
   
According to court documents, Cornelius Jeremiah Pruitt, 26, was convicted in federal court in 2019 for being a drug user in possession of firearms.  Pruitt had been released from custody and was serving a three-year term of supervised release when the United States probation officer assigned to supervise Pruitt discovered that he was illegally in possession of ammunition.  Pruitt was indicted on the new federal charge of being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition and he pled guilty to that charge in October of 2021.
 
United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose imposed the 25-month sentence, which consisted of 15 months on the new charge to run consecutively to 10 months imprisonment for the violation of his supervised release conditions.  As conditions of his supervision, Pruitt will undergo testing and treatment for drug abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Pruitt pay $100 in special assessments.  The ammunition Pruitt illegally possessed was ordered forfeited to the United States.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Monroeville, Alabama woman was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bribery.

According to court documents, Lakerdra Shanta Snowden, 31, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery concerning a program receiving federal funds, providing contraband to a federal prisoner, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The charges stem from Snowden’s abuse of her position as a corrections officer at the Escambia County Detention Center (“ECDC”) in Brewton, Alabama. In that role, Snowden smuggled prohibited items into the jail and did other corrupt things on behalf of a federal detainee housed there. In exchange, Snowden accepted cash payments from the detainee totaling more than $5,000.

On July 20, 2021, Snowden pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. In connection with her guilty plea, Snowden admitted that she knowingly conspired with the detainee and others to commit federal funds bribery, and that the purpose of the bribery conspiracy was for her to enrich herself by abusing her official position to bring prohibited objects into the jail, which she would then provide to the detainee in exchange for money. The contraband items that Snowden smuggled into ECDC for the detainee included U.S. currency, phones, and K2 spice paper—items that she admitted threatened the order, discipline, and security of the jail, as well as the life, health, and safety of the individuals housed there.

United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose ordered Snowden to serve a two-year term of supervised release upon her release from prison and to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Sinan Kalayoglu prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Selma man was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Roderick James McGuire, 41, was arrested during a traffic stop by Dallas County sheriff’s deputies in January 2019 in possession of a loaded Hi-Point 9mm pistol and marijuana. McGuire admitted to deputies that he had a gun and marijuana in the car he was driving. At the time of his arrest, McGuire knew that he had previously been convicted in 2013 for first degree assault after he shot a victim in the arm. McGuire was on state probation for that offense at the time he possessed the gun and marijuana in this case. Under federal law, McGuire is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition as a result of his felony conviction.

United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose ordered McGuire to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered McGuire to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Fort Worth, Texas man was sentenced to 68 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, Sanwon Demetrius Baldwin, 41, conspired with his co-defendant, Brittany Jannice Chapman, 27, to commit bank fraud and identity theft. The defendants carried out their fraudulent scheme by stealing mail from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes, altering stolen checks and money orders without authorization from their lawful owners, and making unlawful bank deposits and cash withdrawals.

In June 2017, police in Bedford, Texas arrested the defendants in possession of more than 100 stolen checks and money orders, a .45-caliber pistol, and marijuana. Police searched the trunk of Baldwin’s rental car and found a venetian blind blade covered in rat trap glue, which criminals commonly use to “fish” mail out of postal collection boxes. Police also found chemicals typically used to alter information on checks, money orders, and other stolen mail. Agents later searched Baldwin’s house in Mobile, Alabama and recovered more than 600 additional checks and money orders that the defendants had stolen from the mail. Forensic analysis revealed the defendants’ fingerprints on several stolen checks and money orders. The total amount of the stolen financial instruments was more than $278,000.

Senior United States District Judge Callie V.S. Granade ordered Baldwin to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment and will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Granade ordered Baldwin to pay $9,209.10 in victim restitution and $200 in special assessments.

The court sentenced Chapman to five years’ probation in December 2021, ordering that Chapman serve the first 12 months on home confinement. Chapman is also responsible for victim restitution.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Mobile Police Department, and the Bedford, Texas Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

According to court documents, Jydrick Leon Frazier, 30, was arrested by Mobile police on July 8, 2020, after he crashed a truck that had been reported stolen earlier that day in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Police searched the stolen truck and found a loaded .380-caliber pistol underneath the seat and ammunition in the center console. Frazier admitted that he knowingly possessed the pistol and the ammunition. At the time of the offense, Frazier knew that he had been convicted of multiple felony crimes, including robbery, theft, breaking and entering a vehicle, and possession of forged instruments. Under federal law, Frazier is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition as a result of his felony convictions.

Senior United States District Judge Callie V.S. Granade ordered Frazier to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Granade ordered Frazier to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Foley man was sentenced today to 168 months in prison for conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, John Douglas Havranek, Jr., 45, was implicated in an investigation involving a group of local distributors who were receiving methamphetamine ice from outside the state.  Havranek sold methamphetamine to a cooperating co-conspirator who was acting as a confidential informant for authorities.  The informant obtained recorded conversation with Havranek during the controlled buy of methamphetamine in which Havranek discussed his source of supply for methamphetamine ice in California.  Other cooperating co-conspirators implicated Havranek in the distribution scheme. Havranek was arranging for the shipment of packages containing methamphetamine ice from California to different addresses in the Foley area.  Payment for the methamphetamine distributed locally was wired to Havranek to California to pay for the drugs.  Havranek pled guilty to the conspiracy charge in May of 2021.
   
United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed the sentence of 168 months imprisonment, to be followed by a supervised release term of 5 years.  Special conditions of his supervision include drug testing and treatment, and a model search condition.  No fine was imposed, but the judge ordered that Havranek pay $100 in special assessments.
 
The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations.  Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. 

MOBILE, AL – A Baldwin County man was sentenced today to 151 months in prison for methamphetamine distribution.

In September of 2021, James Melvin Harbison, 55, pled guilty to a seven-count indictment charging him with specific instances of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine with no plea agreement with the United States.  Harbison contested the amount of methamphetamine for which he was accountable because such evidence drives the advisory guidelines that affect the sentence.  During the sentencing hearing today, conducted by United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer, the United States called five witnesses who testified about their involvement with and knowledge of Harbison’s drug distribution activities in Baldwin County over many years.  The witnesses testified consistently that Harbison was distributing between 2 to 4 ounces of methamphetamine per week.   Harbison testified on his own behalf during the hearing, claiming he was little more than a drug user.  At the conclusion of the testimony, the judge found the government witnesses credible and Harbison not credible, holding him accountable for 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine ice.
        
Judge Moorer imposed the sentence of 151 months imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently with each other.  Upon Harbison’s release, he will serve concurrent terms of supervised release term totaling 5 years.  Special conditions of his supervision include drug testing and treatment, mental health counseling and treatment, and a model search condition.  No fine was imposed, but the judge ordered that Harbison pay $700 in special assessments.
 
The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.  Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. 

MOBILE, AL – A Semmes man and woman were each sentenced to two years in federal prison for counterfeiting U.S. currency.

According to court documents, Bernardo Guerrero Semana, 28, and Kendra Nicole Sullivan, 27, were arrested in May 2021 in possession of more than $5,600 in counterfeit U.S. currency. In addition to the counterfeit money, law enforcement seized from the defendants’ house several tools commonly used for counterfeiting, including computers, printers, and a paper cutter, as well as a document identifying the federal law that prohibits the printing or reproduction of U.S. currency. Both defendants confessed to their roles in producing counterfeit money and checks. In August 2021, while on release pending trial, the defendants absconded from pretrial supervision and were later apprehended by police in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Senior United States District Judge William H. Steele ordered the defendants to serve two-year terms of supervised release upon their release from prison, during which time they will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered each defendant to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The United States Secret Service and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – An Irvington man was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on April 14, 2020, Mobile police officers spoke with a woman who reported that her boyfriend, Michael Bates, 28, had taken her car without her permission and that there was a firearm in the vehicle.  At around the same time, employees of the La Quinta Inn in Tillman’s Corner called for police assistance because Bates was there, acting erratically, and flashing a firearm.  An officer from the Mobile Police Department responded to the La Quinta Inn. When Bates saw the officer, he started the car and sped away.  Police officers and deputies from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office gave chase.  Bates led police on a high-speed chase for over six-and-a-half minutes.  The chase began in Tillman’s Corner, a heavily populated area with many pedestrians.  At one intersection, his reckless driving caused a crash.  He then continued to flee, driving through a shopping center parking lot and a Winn Dixie parking lot at speeds of 70 to 80 miles per hour.  At one point, when driving down Old Pascagoula Road toward Theodore Dawes Road, he was driving on the wrong side of the road.  Speeds reached up to 130 miles per hour. The pursuit ended when Bates lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree.  Bates had to be physically removed from the car and he fought officers the entire time.  As the officers were attempting to handcuff Bates on the ground, they discovered the firearm in his waistband.

Bates had previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance, theft of property of the first degree, burglary of the third degree, and theft of property of the first degree. Each of these prior felony convictions disqualified Bates from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

United States District Judge Kristi DuBose imposed a forty-one month sentence of incarceration, with credit for the time Bates has spent in custody prior to sentencing.  The judge also ordered Bates to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his discharge from prison.  Judge DuBose ordered that Bates pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mobile Police Department, and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Montgomery woman was sentenced to 37 months in prison for embezzlement, bank fraud, and wire fraud convictions.

According to court documents and evidence presented at a federal jury trial in June 2021, Tiffany Culliver Franklin, 41, committed a series of financial fraud crimes over a period of several years. In particular, between June 2015 and July 2017, Franklin embezzled $202,000 from Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T), where she was employed as a vault teller. Franklin gave a written statement to a BB&T investigator admitting that she stole the money from a local branch in Montgomery and gambled with it at casinos.

Before embezzling money from BB&T, Franklin also worked as a banker at a Wells Fargo branch in Montgomery from January 2012 to December 2014. In that capacity, Franklin used her Wells Fargo credentials to create and obtain a debit card linked to an elderly customer’s account. Franklin then used the debit card to deposit worthless checks into and immediately withdraw cash from the elderly customer’s account, causing a financial loss to Wells Fargo.
Finally, between September 2017 and June 2018, Franklin worked as a bookkeeper for Goodwyn Middle School (GMS) in Montgomery. During that period, Franklin stole more than $13,000 in money and property belonging to GMS, including funds taken in from classroom teachers and proceeds from school athletic events. Franklin also used a GMS-issued store credit card to buy various unauthorized personal items. Franklin admitted to state investigators that she used the money she stole from GMS to gamble at casinos.

Chief United States District Judge L. Scott Coogler ordered Franklin to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon her release from prison, during which time she will be subject to credit restrictions and prohibited from working in the financial-services industry. The court also ordered Franklin to pay $216,416 in victim restitution and $600 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The United States Secret Service and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sinan Kalayoglu and Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Mobile woman was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Sheedah Majeedah Carson, 25, was a passenger in a car driven by her codefendant, Michael Campbell, who led police on a chase after refusing to yield for a traffic stop. Campbell eventually drove the car to a parking lot behind a church and ran into a nearby wooded area. Meanwhile, as security footage from the church showed, Carson got out of the passenger seat of the car and dropped a stolen .40-caliber pistol over a nearby fence before police arrived and arrested her. Police also found a .40-caliber magazine in the car, which had a young child in the backseat. Carson had previously been convicted of felony offenses, including chemical endangerment of a child, which made it illegal for her to possess firearms or ammunition under federal law.

Senior United States District Judge William H. Steele ordered Carson to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon her release from prison, during which time she will undergo testing and treatment for substance abuse. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered Carson to pay $100 in special assessments. Campbell’s case is pending in federal court.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Oliver McDonald and Deborah Griffin prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Citronelle man was sentenced to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of multiple firearms.
 
According to court documents, Xavier Davell Shepard, 45, had four felony convictions prior to his latest offense, including a conviction in 2013 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms or ammunition.

On February 12, 2020, a victim reported a burglary at her Citronelle home. One or more persons had allegedly entered the home and stolen ten firearms from a back bedroom. The Citronelle Police Department later recovered four of the ten firearms after Shepard pawned them at various pawn shops.

On March 8, 2020, a Citronelle Police Department detective interviewed Shepard about the stolen firearms. Shepard told police that he had been at the victim’s home a couple days before the burglary and that he had been doing odd jobs and washing cars around the house for some time. Shepard said three other persons committed the burglary and that he bought five firearms in Citronelle from one of the burglars. Shepard said he acquired the firearms in the woods in Citronelle where the burglars had stashed the weapons. Shepard admitted that he later pawned the firearms for money.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Citronelle Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sinan Kalayoglu prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Jackson man was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition.

According to court documents, Matthew Shannon Hartley, 39, was arrested in January 2018 following the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Jackson, Alabama. During the search of Hartley’s residence, police recovered several rounds of .22-caliber ammunition, 12-gauge shotgun shells, and an empty 9mm handgun magazine. A trained drug-detection dog also alerted for the presence of drugs during the search, though police did not recover any drugs. During a post-Miranda interview, Hartley admitted that he had purchased the ammunition and had hidden some of it behind a dryer because he knew he was a convicted felon who could not legally possess it. At the time of the offense, Hartley had multiple felony convictions for drug and theft-related crimes.

Senior United States District Court Judge William H. Steele ordered Hartley to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo testing and treatment for substance abuse. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered Hartley to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jackson Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Foley man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Remonto Maurice Johnson, 35, was arrested by Foley police on December 22, 2020 on domestic-violence charges. The previous day, while investigating a shooting that had occurred in a residential area of Foley, police recovered a Glock .40-caliber pistol from a driveway on South Pecan Street. Johnson had dropped the pistol while fleeing the area during the shooting, during which two individuals shot at Johnson allegedly in retaliation for the prior domestic-violence incident. At the time of the shooting, Johnson had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including assault and drug offenses. As part of his guilty plea, Johnson admitted that he possessed the Glock pistol, that he was a convicted felon, and that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms.

United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Johnson to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo testing and treatment for substance abuse. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Johnson to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Foley Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A federal judge sentenced a Selma, Alabama man today to 112 months in prison for possessing a firearm while being a previously convicted felon.
 
According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, John Ashley Jones, Jr. aka Baby Junior, of Selma, was approached by police on June 4, 2020. Dallas County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were responding to a call about a suspicious person with a firearm at 200 Landsend Avenue in Selma. When Deputies arrived, they saw a man, later identified as John Ashley Jones, Jr., standing next to a tan SUV.  A deputy observed Jones make a motion as though he had thrown something under the vehicle as deputies approached the SUV.  Jones was secured and deputies recovered a Ruger .380 caliber pistol from under the SUV.  Jones was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition as a result of his multiple prior felony convictions, including discharging a firearm into an occupied building, assault, manslaughter, possession of a controlled substance, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, and the 4th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Arrington prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Launched in 2001, the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

MOBILE, AL – A federal jury convicted a Selma, Alabama man and woman today for witness tampering and the man for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm during a federal drug trafficking offense. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Darick “Booman” Dillard, 43, of Selma, was in possession of an AK-47 style firearm and a semi-automatic pistol that he sold to another individual in the summer of 2020. Dillard is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition as a result of his previous felony convictions for assault with a firearm, assault of a peace officer, and possession of marijuana. The two separate incidents of Dillard selling firearms were recorded by the individual while under the supervision of law enforcement.  When law enforcement served Dillard with a federal indictment on March 3, 2021, he was found to be in possession cocaine and other narcotics packaged for sale, and yet another firearm, a stolen Beretta pistol.  On March 4, 2021, Dillard was arraigned in federal court and learned enough details of the charges to determine who had provided evidence against him, and contacted his sister, Lametrius Dillard.  Lametrius Dillard, at the direction of her brother, then attempted to intimidate the individual into changing their testimony.

The jury convicted Darick Dillard of two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and witness tampering. Lametrius Dillard was convicted of witness tampering. They will be sentenced January 14th, 2022.

U. S. Attorney Sean P. Costello said, “Violent felons in our community have no business possessing or selling firearms. In partnership with our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, we will continue to hold criminals accountable for their actions. The jury’s verdict reinforces the message that threatening and intimidating witnesses is as utterly unacceptable as gun and drug crime.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, Fourth Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Arrington is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A federal jury convicted a Mexican national last week for possessing with intent to distribute multiple kilograms of cocaine.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Gilberto Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 44, of Houston, Texas, was driving a flatbed truck from Houston to Atlanta, Georgia when he was stopped by a Baldwin County sheriff’s deputy for a traffic violation on Interstate 65. The jury heard evidence that on January 25, 2021, Gonzalez had driven the truck from Texas to Alabama while his passenger and codefendant, Daniel Eric Corona, slept. Gonzalez and Corona lacked proper paperwork for the load that they were purporting to haul and had no valid proof of insurance.

During a consent search of the truck, deputies pried open a locked compartment and found a duffel bag containing 16 individually wrapped bundles of cocaine weighing more than 35 pounds in total. According to expert testimony presented at trial, the cocaine had a wholesale value of more than $500,000 and a street value of more than $6 million. The jury also reviewed evidence from Gonzalez’s cell phone containing images of cocaine and WhatsApp messages discussing “kilos” and prices of cocaine. Gonzalez’s crime carries a potential sentence of ten years to life in prison. He will be sentenced by United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer in February 2022.

Corona pleaded guilty to a cocaine-trafficking conspiracy charge in September 2021. He also faces ten years to life in prison and will be sentenced by Judge Moorer on December 16, 2021.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Deborah Griffin prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Pensacola, Florida, man was sentenced on October 15, 2021, to 10 years in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice.
 
According to court documents, Jeffery Mason Baisch, 48, distributed methamphetamine ice he obtained to various suppliers in Baldwin County, Alabama.   Baisch was implicated by several co-conspirators in a drug distribution organization operating in central Baldwin County.  During the investigation, Baisch sold methamphetamine to an undercover informant who was working with local investigators.  In addition, Baisch was in possession of methamphetamine and other controlled substances when a search warrant was executed at his residence in Pensacola.
 
United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose imposed the 10-year sentence, which will be followed by five years on supervised release following his imprisonment.  As conditions of his supervision, Baisch will undergo testing and treatment for drug abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Baisch pay $100 in special assessments.
 
The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, the Pensacola office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Moss Point, Mississippi man was sentenced last week to ten years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine on December 11, 2019 in Grand Bay, Alabama.

According to court documents, Seabron Mack Millender, 38, arranged to sell five ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a gas station in Grand Bay. Police set up a perimeter around the gas station and, when Millender arrived, moved in to arrest him. Millender reversed his car in an attempt to flee but police vehicles boxed him in. Officers arrested Millender and seized $1,061 in cash from him. Inside Millender’s car, officers found a clear plastic bag containing 134.8 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine hydrochloride. During a post-Miranda interview with police, Millender admitted that he had obtained the meth two days earlier and had driven the drugs into Alabama from Mississippi with the intent to distribute them. At the time of his offense, Millender was on federal supervised release for a 2008 drug-conspiracy conviction in the Southern District of Mississippi.

United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Millender to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo testing and treatment for substance abuse. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Millender to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

MOBILE, AL – A Fairhope, Alabama, man was sentenced on October 15, 2021, to 10 years in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice.
 
According to court documents, Christopher Quentin Green, 43, distributed methamphetamine ice he obtained to others in Baldwin County, Alabama.   Green was implicated by several co-conspirators in a drug distribution organization operating in central Baldwin County.  During the investigation, Green was in possession of methamphetamine when a search warrant was executed at his residence in Fairhope.   Green arrived in a vehicle after deputies arrived and attempted to discard a bag of methamphetamine as deputies approached the vehicle.  Green admitted after being advised of his rights that he had received methamphetamine ice in the past from a co-conspirator, Grady Sikes, and that the methamphetamine ice in the vehicle came from a supplier in Pensacola.
 
United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose imposed the 10-year sentence, which will be followed by five years on supervised release following his imprisonment.  As conditions of his supervision, Green will undergo testing and treatment for drug abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Green pay $100 in special assessments. 

The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.