Middle District of Alabama
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Ariton, Alabama Man Sentenced to Prison for Gun Crime Committed While on Federal ProbationRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that 48-year-old Bobby Wayne Williams, from Ariton, Alabama, received a 51-month prison sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for violating the terms of his federal probation. During the sentencing hearing on February 18, 2025, the judge also ordered that Williams serve an additional three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
According to Williams’ plea agreement and other court records, during the summer of 2024, Williams was on federal supervised release and residing in Dale County after completing a 63-month prison sentence from a previous federal gun conviction. In June of 2024, law enforcement obtained an arrest warrant for Williams stemming from allegations that Williams pointed a firearm at his ex-girlfriend and her current boyfriend, then threatened to shoot them both. On August 14, 2024, a United States Probation Officer and deputies from the Dale County Sheriff’s Office conducted a home visit at Williams’ residence to execute the arrest warrant. Officers found Williams in possession of a handgun. Williams’ previous felony conviction prohibits him from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Possessing the firearm and committing a new crime also violated the terms of his supervised release.
The Dale County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Probation Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Russell T. Duraski prosecuted this case.
Roanoke, Alabama Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison Following Federal Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On February 6. 2025, a federal judge ordered 41-year-old Clifford Lane Brown, from Roanoke, Alabama, to serve 228 months in prison for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the illegal drug, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. The judge also ordered that Brown remain on supervised release for five years following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to Brown’s plea agreement and other court records, on June 3, 2021, deputies with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office went to a home in Roanoke to make contact with an individual residing there concerning an investigation unrelated to Brown. When deputies arrived, they observed a vehicle parked near the home’s front porch. There were two occupants inside the vehicle — one was a female, the other was Brown. As officers approached the vehicle, deputies saw that Brown was holding a handgun. Deputies ordered Brown to put the firearm down, and Brown complied. Investigators searched the vehicle and found a backpack containing six plastic bags of methamphetamine, a small glass jar of marijuana, a hypodermic needle, and multiple rounds of ammunition. Brown has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) analyzed and weighed the methamphetamine. The DEA lab determined that there was a total of 76 grams of methamphetamine seized with a purity level of 98 percent. On October 28, 2024, Brown pleaded guilty to possessing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the illegal drug.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case, with assistance from DEA. Assistant United States Attorney Justin L. Jones prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Machinegun Conversion DeviceRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On February 5, 2025, 24-year-old Domonique McKee, from Montgomery, Alabama, received a sentence of 60 months in prison for possession of a machinegun, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. Following his prison sentence, McKee will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on December 2, 2023, a Montgomery police officer stopped a vehicle suspected of containing illegal narcotics. The officer identified McKee as the driver and conducted a search of the vehicle. In addition to finding a substance suspected of being methamphetamine, law enforcement found three handguns, numerous rounds of ammunition, and multiple magazines, including extended capacity magazines. One of the handguns seized was equipped with a machinegun conversion device. On September 25, 2024, McKee pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing a machinegun.
“When installed on a firearm, a machinegun conversion device, or ‘switch,’ allows a gun to function as a fully automatic weapon capable of firing a continuous spray of bullets with a single pull of the trigger,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “The mere possession of a machinegun conversion device, regardless of whether it is installed on a firearm, is a federal crime. My office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of those carrying these dangerous devices and to work with our law enforcement partners to remove them from our communities.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Justin L. Jones prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison Following Federal Drug and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Montgomery, Alabama man following federal drug and gun convictions. On February 5, 2025, a federal judge sentenced 37-year-old Richard Eugene Moore, Jr., to 180 months in prison. In addition, the judge ordered that Moore serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on September 20, 2023, an Alabama state trooper attempted to stop a vehicle in the city of Montgomery after observing a traffic violation. Inside the vehicle was a male driver, two female passengers, and a toddler. The driver, later identified as Moore, refused to stop. A pursuit ensued and the trooper observed Moore throwing objects out of the driver-side window. Moore continued to flee through a residential area, often driving at a high rate of speed. The pursuit ended when Moore ran a stop sign and struck an unmarked police car. Moore then attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended just a few feet from the vehicle. All four occupants of the vehicle, including the toddler, sustained minor injuries. The police officer in the unmarked vehicle sustained more serious injuries and was hospitalized for several days.
Investigators recovered the items discarded by Moore during the pursuit. The items included a Glock handgun and a backpack. Moore has prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Inside the backpack, investigators found several bags of suspected marijuana and a digital scale. Laboratory analysis confirmed the substance in the bags to be marijuana.
On September 16, 2024, Moore pleaded guilty to possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute the illegal drug and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Moore also enter a plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“On a weekday afternoon, Moore led law enforcement on a high-speed chase through the streets of Montgomery when school traffic was at its peak,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “This type of reckless behavior cannot be tolerated. The 15-year sentence ordered by the judge was completely justified due to Moore’s total disregard for the safety of everyone on the road that day, including law enforcement and his passengers.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Brandon W. Bates prosecuted.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Montgomery, Alabama man for producing child sexual abuse material. On January 30, 2025, a federal judge ordered 49-year-old Cleveland Dewayne Chambers to serve 240 months in prison. The judge also ordered that Chambers remain on supervised release for seven years following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to Chamber’s plea agreement and other court records, in July 2022, law enforcement in Pennsylvania were conducting a child exploitation investigation on an individual in the City of Eaton. Investigators in that case discovered electronic communications leading them to suspect Chambers was also involved in producing or sharing illegal images of children. Further investigation revealed that, from March 2022 through July 2022, Chambers communicated with a woman in St. Louis, Missouri, directing her to create images and videos of sexually explicit conduct with her two-year-old child. Chambers would then share and distribute the images and videos to others using a messaging application on his cellphone.
“Protecting children from exploitation is one of law enforcement’s most important responsibilities,” stated Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “Producing and trading in child sexual abuse material is an incredibly tragic crime that robs children of their innocence and inflicts long lasting harm. While all child sexual exploitation is unacceptable, the sexual abuse of a two-year-old is absolutely reprehensible. I applaud the efforts of all the agencies involved in this case for stopping Chamber’s criminal activity before more children were victimized.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) investigated this case, with assistance from the Montgomery Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Tara S. Ratz prosecuted the case.
Tax Preparer Sentenced for Including False Information on Federal Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On January 31, 2025, a federal judge sentenced 47-year-old Natoshia Lashawn Crawford to 30 months in prison for making false tax returns and assisting in the filing of false tax returns, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman with IRS Criminal Investigation’s Atlanta Field Office. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
According to her plea agreement and other court records, from 2018 through 2022, Crawford owned and operated On Time Professional Tax Service, LLC, in Montgomery, Alabama. There, Crawford prepared and filed federal income tax returns for clients. In her plea agreement, Crawford admitted that she included false information in tax returns filed on behalf of herself and others. Doing so caused Crawford and some of her clients to receive greater refunds than they were entitled to receive.
In one example, Crawford reported a total income of $23,116 in her 2020 tax return. When Crawford pleaded guilty on May 13, 2024, she admitted that she knowingly excluded other income she received from her business. The false reporting of Crawford’s income for 2020 resulted in a lower amount of tax due and an underpayment to the IRS in the amount of $32,867. Crawford also admitted that she filed a 2019 return for a client claiming a business loss of $90,171 for a janitorial services business which did not exist. In her plea agreement, Crawford further agreed that the multiple false returns she filed for herself and others during the 2017 – 2021 tax years caused a total loss of $1,721,047.45 to the IRS. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge also ordered that Crawford pay restitution to the IRS for losses from returns filed by her for the 2017 – 2021 tax years.
“For far too long, opportunistic tax return preparers like Ms. Crawford have viewed the IRS as a piggybank,” stated Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “As was the case here, preparers attempt to get larger refunds for themselves and their clients by putting false information on the tax returns they prepare. Hopefully, Ms. Crawford’s sentence will cause anyone who has considered cheating the system like this to honestly and accurately prepare tax returns.”
“The sentence Natoshia Crawford received is an example of the expected outcome others could face should they willfully defraud the government by submitting false and inaccurate tax returns,” said Special Agent in Charge Hardeman. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will investigate and turn over to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution those who commit tax crimes.”
For additional guidance, see the IRS fact sheet on their website at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/fs-08-10.pdf.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted.
Former Alabama Jail Administrator Charged with Federal Civil Rights Violation, Falsifying a Report and Making False Statements to InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Justice Department announced today that a federal grand jury in Montgomery, Alabama, returned an indictment charging former Crenshaw County Jail Administrator Christian Alexander Porter, 33, with assaulting a handcuffed and compliant inmate at Crenshaw County Jail. Porter was also charged with falsifying a report and making false statements to state and federal investigators.
The indictment alleges that, on or about Oct. 12, 2021, Porter used unreasonable force on a pre-trial detainee while acting under color of law in violation of the 14th Amendment and falsified a use of force report to cover up his assault of the victim. The indictment also charges Porter with making false statements to state and federal investigators on Nov. 18, 2021, and June 28, 2022, respectively.
Porter faces maximum penalties of 10 years in prison for the federal civil rights violation, 20 years in prison for falsifying the report and making false statements to state investigators and five years in prison for making false statements to federal investigators. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kathleen Wolfe of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Mobile Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Mobile Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Lia Rettammel of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dual Citizen of China and the United States Indicted for Filing False Tax Returns and Failing to Report Foreign Bank AccountsRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Alabama, has indicted Foster Dai, also known as Fa Dai, a dual citizen of China and the United States, on charges of filing false tax returns and failing to file a report of a foreign bank or financial account. The indictment was handed down on September 10, 2024, but unsealed this week. Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson, Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman with the IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown with the FBI Mobile, Alabama Field Office made the announcement.
According to the indictment, 60-year-old Dai, who previously resided in Auburn, Alabama and was a former professor in the Electrical Engineering Department of Auburn University, is alleged to have been a corporate executive officer of Shenzhen NRT, Co., Ltd., based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The indictment alleges that Dai used accounts with China Merchants Bank and Industrial & Commercial Bank of China to receive payments from at least five entities in the PRC. The indictment alleges that Dai failed to report that income on his federal tax returns for 2018 through 2020.
In addition to the obligation to report foreign income for tax purposes, the indictment notes that United States citizens and residents who have a financial interest in, or signature or other authority over, a bank account in a foreign country with an aggregate value of more than $10,000 at any time during a particular calendar year, are required to file a “Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts” (FBAR) with the United States Treasury. The indictment alleges that Dai failed to file the required FBAR reports for the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China account in 2018, and the China Merchants Bank account in 2020.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, Dai faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Agents with IRS Criminal Investigation and FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the United States Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Auburn University fully cooperated with law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s office during the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick is prosecuting this case.
Montgomery Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing a Firearm Recovered at Scene of Shooting Where Four-Year-Old Child was InjuredRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On January 7, 2025, a federal jury convicted 27-year-old Grenden James Jordan, from Montgomery, Alabama, on the charge of illegally possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson.
“The illegal use of guns by individuals that have no regard for the safety of our communities, our children, or anyone but themselves will not be tolerated,” stated Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting all violations of federal firearms laws to deter criminals like Grenden Jordan from engaging in these public shootings and placing innocent bystanders in harm’s way.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on March 16, 2024, an officer with the Montgomery Police Department heard gun shots being fired on Atlanta Highway near the Eastern Boulevard overpass and responded to the scene. Upon arrival, the officer saw three men walking away from a blue Dodge Challenger that was stopped in one of the lanes of traffic. One of the men, later identified as Grenden James Jordan, was observed by the officer throwing a firearm towards the side of the road. This was also captured on the officer’s dash cam video. The three men fled the scene.
Witnesses stated that the three men were occupants of the Dodge Challenger and had exchanged gunfire with a red sedan, which left the scene when law enforcement arrived. Numerous bullet holes were found on the Dodge Challenger. There was a third vehicle on the scene that had been caught in the crossfire and had gunshot damage as well. This vehicle was occupied by innocent bystanders including a mother, father, and four-year-old child. The child sustained injuries from broken glass caused by the gunshots and was treated.
Officers recovered an AR-style pistol from the area where the firearm had been thrown by Jordan, along with a high-capacity drum magazine with ammunition. During the trial, the jury saw a photo taken prior to March 16, 2024, showing Jordan posing with an AR-style pistol matching the one found on the scene of the shooting. In reaching their verdict, the jury determined that Jordan was in possession of the firearm recovered at the scene of the shooting. Jordan has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Following this conviction, Jordan faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison with no parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. During that hearing, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Montgomery Police Department and the FBI investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Michelle R. Turner prosecuted.
Phenix City Man Sentenced to over Seven Years in Federal Prison for COVID-19 Loan SchemeRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On January 6, 2025, a federal judge ordered that 39-year-old Kyle Nathan Carlisle, a resident of Phenix City, Alabama, receive a sentence of 92 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges related to loans received through the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. Following his prison sentence, Carlisle will be on supervised release for three years. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act established the EIDL program, which was directly administered by the Small Business Administration. This financial assistance program was designed to help eligible small businesses by giving them working capital to make regular payments for operating expenses such as payroll, rent or mortgage expenses, utilities, or business debt.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, between July 2020 and April 2021, Carlisle applied for 23 EIDL loans online, many of which were duplicates. Five of the loans were ultimately funded. Carlisle made multiple false statements and misrepresentations in his applications, including the businesses’ revenue, the number of employees, and that he had no felony convictions in the last five years. Records indicate he had two 2016 felony convictions in Russell County, Alabama. Carlisle further admitted to submitting forged documents with the applications including fake or altered business licenses. As a result of his scheme, Carlisle received approximately $600,000 for four separate applications. Part of the funding was recovered before it cleared Carlisle’s accounts. The total amount sought in the scheme was $3,470,832. Carlisle was also convicted of money laundering for using the illegal proceeds to purchase a vehicle, among other unauthorized personal expenses.
In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered that Carlisle pay the Small Business Administration $547,846.54 in restitution. Carlisle was also ordered to forfeit the same amount to the United States government.
“Kyle Carlisle fabricated lies and forged documents in a scheme to divert taxpayer money for his own self-enrichment,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “The EIDL program was intended to provide relief to actual struggling businesses during a pandemic that created an enormous economic burden on the entire country. My office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who engage in activities that threaten the integrity of government programs.”
The FBI Mobile Field Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and the Alabama Department of Labor. Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Alabama Police Sergeant Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Violation for Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
A former Alabama sergeant was sentenced today to 16 months in prison and two years of supervised release for assaulting an arrestee.
Ryan Phillips, 42, a former sergeant with the Daleville, Alabama, Police Department (DPD), previously pleaded guilty to one count of depriving an arrestee of his civil rights.
During his plea, Phillips admitted that, in March 2022, after a verbal dispute, he willfully used unreasonable force against an arrestee after he removed his badge and firearm, entered the victim’s jail cell and struck the victim in the upper body and face multiple times. Phillips further admitted that he had no legitimate law enforcement purpose for engaging in this conduct, and the victim suffered bodily injury including multiple lacerations and bruises to the face and chest.
“People being held under arrest have the right to be treated humanely and not to be violently assaulted behind bars,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The defendant disregarded his oath to protect and serve his community, abused his power and violated the victim’s civil rights when he entered that jail cell and repeatedly hit the victim. This sentence should serve as a reminder to all law enforcement that a badge is not a license to answer verbal insults with physical violence and excessive force. The Justice Department will hold accountable officials who violate arrestee’s civil rights.”
“Phillips’ assault not only violated the victim’s constitutional rights, his crime also dishonored his profession,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama. “The purpose of this prosecution is not merely to punish Phillips for losing his composure and unlawfully beating an arrestee, this prosecution is also intended to protect the reputation of every honest and hardworking law enforcement officer risking his or her life every day.”
“Law enforcement officers are entrusted to safeguard everyone’s civil rights,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Montgomery Field Office. “In this case, that trust was broken, and the officer egregiously violated an individual’s civil rights. It will remain a top priority for the FBI to ensure anyone violating someone’s civil rights is held accountable, especially those within law enforcement.”
The FBI Montgomery Field Office, Montogomery Resident Agency investigated the case.
Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison Following Federal Drug and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Montgomery, Alabama man following his convictions on federal drug and gun charges. On December 3, 2024, 38-year-old David Lee Johnson III, received a sentence of 192 months in prison. Following his prison sentence, Johnson will serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on April 27, 2022, officers with the Montgomery Police Department observed Johnson walking near Zelda Road. When Johnson spotted the officers, he ran to a trash enclosure behind a local restaurant, then exited a short time later. Inside the enclosure, officers found a firearm and an assortment of drugs, including methamphetamine. Officers spotted Johnson attempting to leave the scene in a vehicle and made a traffic stop. Johnson admitted to possessing the gun and methamphetamine. Johnson has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. On September 4, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. During the sentencing hearing, the judge noted Johnson’s lengthy and varied criminal history along with the specific harm methamphetamine causes the community.
The Montgomery Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Justin L. Jones prosecuted.
Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Detonating an Explosive Device Outside the Alabama Attorney General’s OfficeRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On November 21, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 27-year-old Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, of Irondale, Alabama, to 108 months in prison for the malicious use of an explosive device outside of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office in Montgomery.
“Kyle Calvert attacked the Alabama Attorney General’s Office with a shrapnel-filled explosive and then fled the scene, but this sentence ensures he will not escape accountability for his crime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Acts of violence like this one against our public institutions endanger public servants and entire communities, and they must not be tolerated. I am grateful to the FBI, ATF, and our state and local law enforcement partners for ensuring accountability for this attack, and for the work they do every day to protect our communities.”
“Today’s sentencing is the final step holding Kyle Calvert accountable for detonating a shrapnel-filled explosive device outside a public office in downtown Montgomery,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This case demonstrates the FBI’s continued commitment to working with our partners to bring to justice anyone who attempts violence to injure or intimidate members of our community.”
“Today’s sentencing shows that any attack on America’s justice system, and on the civil servants and public officials who serve our communities and country, will not be tolerated,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “The sentence handed down today reflects not only the severity of the crime, but also ATF’s commitment to working with our federal, state, and local partners to hold those who attack American institutions accountable.”
“This prosecution would not have been possible if not for the coordinated efforts of numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies,” said Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. “Working together, investigators and analysts were able to identify Calvert as a suspect and ensure he was held accountable for his attempt to intimidate public officials and create chaos.”
According to the plea agreement and other court documents, during the early morning hours of February 24, 2024, Calvert placed an explosive device outside of the Alabama Attorney General's Office in downtown Montgomery. During his plea hearing, Calvert admitted to manufacturing the device and to using nails and screws as shrapnel. After positioning the explosive device near the Attorney General’s Office, Calvert lit its fuse and left the area before it exploded. No injuries were reported. Before planting and detonating the device, Calvert placed stickers with graphics advocating for various political ideologies on various downtown buildings. Some stickers included the phrase “Support your local Antifa.” As reflected in the plea agreement, Calvert claims he has no affiliation with Antifa. Law enforcement arrested Calvert on April 10, 2024.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Assistant United States Attorneys Russell T. Duraski and Brett J. Talley for the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case.
Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Detonating an Explosive Device Outside the Alabama Attorney General’s OfficeRead the Press Release
Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 27, of Irondale, Alabama, was sentenced today to nine years in prison for the malicious use of an explosive device outside of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office in Montgomery.
“Kyle Calvert attacked the Alabama Attorney General’s Office with a shrapnel-filled explosive and then fled the scene, but this sentence ensures he will not escape accountability for his crime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Acts of violence like this one against our public institutions endanger public servants and entire communities, and they must not be tolerated. I am grateful to the FBI, ATF, and our state and local law enforcement partners for ensuring accountability for this attack, and for the work they do every day to protect our communities.”
“Today’s sentencing is the final step holding Kyle Calvert accountable for detonating a shrapnel-filled explosive device outside a public office in downtown Montgomery,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This case demonstrates the FBI’s continued commitment to working with our partners to bring to justice anyone who attempts violence to injure or intimidate members of our community.”
“Today’s sentencing shows that any attack on America’s justice system, and on the civil servants and public officials who serve our communities and country, will not be tolerated,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “The sentence handed down today reflects not only the severity of the crime, but also ATF’s commitment to working with our federal, state, and local partners to hold those who attack American institutions accountable.”
“This prosecution would not have been possible if not for the coordinated efforts of numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama. “Working together, investigators and analysts were able to identify Calvert as a suspect and ensure he was held accountable for his attempt to intimidate public officials and create chaos.”
According to the plea agreement and other court documents, during the early morning hours of Feb. 24, 2024, Calvert placed an explosive device outside of the Alabama Attorney General's Office in downtown Montgomery. During his plea hearing, Calvert admitted to manufacturing the device and to using nails and screws as shrapnel. After positioning the explosive device near the Attorney General’s Office, Calvert lit its fuse and left the area. No injuries were reported. Before planting and detonating the device, Calvert placed stickers with graphics advocating for various political ideologies on various downtown buildings. Some stickers included the phrase “Support your local antifa.” As reflected in the plea agreement, Calvert claims he has no affiliation with antifa. Law enforcement arrested Calvert on April 10, 2024.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the ATF.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell T. Duraski and Brett J. Talley for the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 29 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Being Shipped Through the MailRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On November 20, 2024, a federal judge ordered that 35-year-old Jason Steven McWilliams, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, receive a sentence of 348 months in prison for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute the illegal drug. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, in March of 2023, McWilliams was incarcerated at a jail in Montgomery County on unrelated state charges. While there, McWilliams contacted Shykearia Darneisha Cooper, 26, also from Montgomery, to arrange for a package he was expecting from another individual containing fentanyl pills to be delivered to Cooper’s residence. On March 15, 2023, a parcel service delivered the package to Cooper’s house, and she accepted delivery. Cooper was also charged for her role in the conspiracy. During her October 17, 2023, plea hearing, Cooper specifically admitted that she knew the package contained fentanyl pills and that McWilliams intended to distribute them.
Based on McWilliams’ criminal history, the sentencing judge determined that he qualified as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. This ruling increased the guidelines range for McWilliams and resulted in a significant sentence.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson prosecuted.
Federal Jury Convicts Montgomery Man on Drug Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the conviction of a Montgomery, Alabama man on federal drug charges. On November 19, 2024, a jury found 41-year-old Corey Jermaine Burroughs guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and for maintaining a drug premises.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in 2020, law enforcement began an investigation relating to contraband being brought into an Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) facility. Agents eventually developed Burroughs, a former ADOC inmate, as a suspect. On April 19, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence associated with Burroughs. The search resulted in the discovery of various illegal controlled substances, including a box with marijuana and methamphetamine on the kitchen counter, as well as vacuum sealed bags of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The total amount of methamphetamine found on the premises was approximately half a kilogram. Investigators also discovered vacuum sealer equipment and a digital scale used to package and weigh the illegal drugs. Other contraband, such as wireless headphones and cell phones, were seized as well. These items are in high demand inside prison facilities. The residence appeared to be uninhabited and, on the date of the search, was only being used to package drugs for distribution.
Following these convictions, Burroughs faces a sentence of 10 years to life in federal prison with no parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division, and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with Assistant United States Attorneys J. Patrick Lamb and Mark E. Andreu prosecuting.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl Pills that Resulted in Another Man’s DeathRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and DEA New Orleans Division Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer announced the sentencing of a Montgomery, Alabama man previously convicted on charges of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute the illegal drug. On November 14, 2024, a federal judge ordered that 37-year-old Lawrence Coley, III, serve 240 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and evidence presented during Coley’s trial earlier this year, Coley sold a Montgomery man pills that had the appearance and markings of pharmaceutical oxycodone tablets. Lab analysis revealed that the pills sold to the victim were counterfeit and actually contained fentanyl, causing his death. During Coley’s sentencing hearing, the judge heard testimony that Coley continued to sell the counterfeit pills even after learning of the victim’s death.
“This case illustrates the tragic consequences that drug trafficking can have on our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “Coley’s complete disregard for the lives of others by continuing to sell his illegal drugs after causing a man’s death is disturbing. The harsh reality is that any pill not obtained from a pharmacy or doctor’s office could contain a lethal dose of fentanyl or other deadly drug. This sentence should serve as a warning to drug dealers - if you sell a pill and it contains fentanyl, you run the risk of spending decades in federal prison with no possibility of parole.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration is dedicated to protecting our communities from the scourge of deadly drugs plaguing our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Hofer. “Today’s conviction sends a powerful message to drug traffickers: we will not tolerate the poisoning of our neighborhoods. This victory is a testament to the tireless work of our agents and law enforcement partners and should serve as a stark reminder that there are serious consequences for those who choose profit over people.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Christopher P. Moore prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Man Charged with Possession of a Machinegun Conversion Device on the Campus of Tuskegee UniversityRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – A Montgomery, Alabama, man is facing a federal charge for possessing a firearm with a machinegun conversion device, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. On Nov. 10, 2024, law enforcement arrested 25-year-old Jaquez Myrick, alleging that he illegally possessed a machinegun.
According to the criminal complaint and other court records, on Nov. 10, 2024, law enforcement responded to a reported mass shooting at a parking lot on the campus of Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama. Upon arrival, responding officers observed a large number of people gathered in the parking lot and heard shots being fired. One of the officers observed Myrick holding a handgun and detained him. When agents inspected the handgun retrieved from Myrick, they determined that it was equipped with a machinegun conversion device.
When installed on a firearm, a machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a “switch,” allows a gun to function as a fully automatic weapon capable of firing up to 20 rounds per second with a single pull of the trigger. The possession of a machinegun — which under the relevant federal statute, includes the possession of a conversion device alone — carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Myrick made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon in Montgomery.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Tuskegee University Police Department, City of Tuskegee Police Department, Macon County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Fifth Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara S. Ratz for the Middle District of Alabama is prosecuting the case.
Law enforcement is asking for the public’s assistance in this investigation. Anyone with information is asked to please submit tips at 1-800-CALL-FBI and upload any digital files regarding this incident online at: fbi.gov/tuskegeeshooting24.
Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges After Robbing Two Montgomery Convenience StoresRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On November 8, 2024, Jalen Lamarcus Gunn, a 21-year-old man from Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty to federal robbery and firearm charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on April 27, 2024, Gunn entered a convenience store on Wares Ferry Road in Montgomery and leapt over the counter. Gunn then pointed a firearm at the clerk and demanded money from the register be placed in a plastic bag. Gunn then fled the store with approximately $3,000. Just two days later, on April 29th, Gunn robbed a convenience store on Perry Hill Road in a similar fashion, again pointing a handgun at the clerk and demanding money. This time, Gunn made away with $2,500 and multiple packs of cigarettes. During his plea hearing, Gunn pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a federal crime of violence.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, Gunn faces a sentence of seven years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with Assistant United States Attorney Christopher P. Moore prosecuting.
Two Men Sentenced Following Federal Gun and Drug Convictions Stemming from Conduct in Tallapoosa CountyRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that a federal judge sentenced two Opelika, Alabama residents after a jury found them guilty of committing federal crimes in Tallapoosa County. On October 29, 2024, 45-year-old Jeffrey Monkentee Hill received a sentence of 250 months in prison. Previously, on September 19, 2024, a judge ordered 34-year-old Carstavious Shadon Stovall receive a 92-month sentence. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in February 2022, the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force began an investigation into suspected drug trafficking. The investigation eventually revealed that Hill was involved with the sale of illegal drugs at a residence in Camp Hill, Alabama. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the residence. During the search, law enforcement found Hill and Stovall present at the house, along with cocaine, methamphetamine, and multiple firearms. Both Hill and Stovall have previous felony convictions and are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On June 5, 2024, a federal jury found both Hill and Stovall guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The jury also convicted Hill on the additional charges of possessing cocaine and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the illegal drugs and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Based on Hill’s criminal history, the sentencing judge determined that he qualified as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. This ruling increased the guidelines range for Hill and resulted in a significant sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson would like to thank the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force, the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for investigating this case. In addition, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Marshals Service’s Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force provided valuable assistance in the investigation and apprehension of the defendants. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Ashley J. Avera prosecuted the case.
Chilton County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm He Used in a ShootingRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Chilton County, Alabama man for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On October 23, 2024, a federal judge ordered that 57-year-old Alvin Lee McCary, serve 300 months in prison. A jury found McCary guilty of illegally possessing a firearm following a trial in March of this year. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
According to court records and evidence presented during McCary’s trial, on July 22, 2020, McCary had an argument with another individual at a residence in Clanton, Alabama. The argument escalated and McCary retrieved a shotgun. Witness reported that McCary shot the victim and then fled. When searching McCary’s residence, investigators eventually discovered a shotgun and ammunition at the bottom of a well adjacent to the property. McCary has previous felony convictions and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and Ashley J. Avera prosecuted.
Florida Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Palm Bay, Florida man to 70 months in prison for using a fake identity to purchase a vehicle. On October 21, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 39-year-old Anthony Vila to 70 months in prison. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge also ordered that Vila serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, in early August of 2022, Vila contacted a salesman at a Prattville, Alabama car dealership via electronic communications regarding the purchase of a vehicle valued at $45,000. After being denied financing, Vila sent the personal identifying information of someone he claimed to be his aunt to be used by the dealership as a co-signor on the loan. The information included a copy of the co-signor’s driver’s license and a pay stub. However, both documents were counterfeit. Vila also provided a date of birth and social security number for his alleged co-signor and had an unknown female claiming to be his aunt speak to the dealership over the phone. The $45,000 loan was eventually approved. The individual that Vila falsely claimed to be his aunt had no knowledge of the transaction and had not given permission for her personal information to be used.
On August 4, 2022, Vila picked up the vehicle from the dealership. Vila was apprehended with the vehicle a few days later in Montgomery. During a search of the vehicle, investigators found a laptop, printer, holograms, phone, firearm, and other items commonly used to commit identity theft. The phone contained over 100 stolen identities. The laptop contained evidence of the vehicle purchase described above. Vila pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on June 7, 2024.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted the case.
Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson Appoints Election Officer for the Middle District of AlabamaRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that an Assistant United States Attorney will serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Middle District of Alabama and lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. The DEO is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “In addition, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, the DEO will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. The DEO can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (334) 223-7280.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 251-438-3674.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson added, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
Montgomery Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Account Takeover Scheme and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Montgomery, AL – On October 16, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 32-year-old Heaven Noretta Robinson, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, to 57 months in prison for her role in a scheme to fraudulently add her name to credit card accounts and stealing the identity of a deceased man to purchase a vehicle, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Scott Fix of the Postal Inspection Service’s Houston Division. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge also ordered that Robinson pay restitution to her victims in the amount of $33,550.93 and to serve three years of supervised release following her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Financial fraud and identity theft costs victims billions of dollars each year,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “Criminals will use any information they can acquire to conduct their schemes and line their own pockets. I encourage everyone to be vigilant by reviewing your accounts and credit reports regularly for unusual activity. If you do see something suspicious, report it immediately to the appropriate financial institution and law enforcement. In addition, placing a credit or security freeze with each of the three credit bureaus is another way to prevent accounts being opened without your consent.”
"A large part of the mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is to ensure public trust in the mail. When individuals challenge that mission, postal inspectors will aggressively investigate and remain steadfast in our resolve to seek justice to the end.” said Inspector in Charge Fix. “Robinson’s sentence is a reminder that fraud and identity theft are not victimless crimes and individuals who attempt to commit these crimes face significant penalties as a result of their criminal activity."
According to her plea agreement and other court records, from February through October of 2022, Robinson acquired access to the bank and credit card accounts of others without the rightful owners’ knowledge or permission. Once she gained access, Robinson added herself to the accounts and had credit cards associated with those accounts mailed to her. During her plea hearing, Robinson admitted that she would use the illegally obtained cards to make fraudulent purchases at various retail establishments for her personal benefit.
Robinson also admitted that, on September 17, 2022, she presented the personal identifying information of an individual she claimed to be her uncle to be used as a co-signor on a loan at a Montgomery car dealership. The loan was ultimately approved. However, the identifying information did not belong to her uncle. The information was that of a deceased man that never had any contact with Robinson, nor did his family or anyone else authorize her to use his identity as a co-signer on loan applications. Robinson pleaded guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft on July 3, 2024.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this case, with assistance from the Montgomery Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Joel Feil prosecuted the case.
Enterprise Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison Following Federal Gun ConvictionRead the Press Release
Montgomery, AL – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that 43-year-old Steve Allen Grubbs, Jr., a resident of Enterprise, Alabama, received a sentence of 120 months in prison following his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. There is no parole in the federal system. The sentencing occurred on October 16, 2024.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, in the summer of 2019, law enforcement began an investigation related to suspected drug-trafficking taking place at a residence in Daleville. After confirming their suspicions, on August 2, 2019, officers from the Daleville Police Department executed a search warrant on the residence which was associated with Grubbs at the time. Among the items seized were two handguns. Grubbs has previous felony convictions and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Grubbs pleaded guilty to illegally possessing the firearms on July 3, 2024.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Daleville Police Department, and Enterprise Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Eric M. Counts prosecuted.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama Provides Stand Against Firearm Endangerment (SAFE) Student Pledge to SchoolsRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that this week the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama is working with schools across the district to encourage students to participate in the Stand Against Firearm Endangerment (SAFE) Student Pledge. With a focus on keeping schools and communities safe, students in middle school and high school are signing a voluntary pledge promising that they will assume that any gun they see might be loaded, they will never take a gun to school, they will never resolve a dispute with a gun, and they will use their influence to prevent friends from using guns to resolve disputes. Elementary school children are making a similar commitment—pledging that they will not play with a gun and that, if they see a gun, they will not touch it and they will tell a teacher or a trusted adult. Students are making the SAFE Student Pledge this week in conjunction with the National Day of Concern for Young People and Gun Violence, which will be observed on October 16, 2024.
The SAFE Student Pledge recognizes the role young people play in reducing gun endangerment and violence by making responsible decisions. The pledge also seeks to foster discussions among students and their families about the necessity of gun safety and non-violent ways to resolve disputes.
Nearly 30 schools are participating in the SAFE Student Pledge this week, with over 10,000 students expected to take the pledge. Participating schools are located in a variety of counties within the Middle District of Alabama, including Chambers, Chilton, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Pike, and Russell.
Schools or youth organizations may also participate in the SAFE Student Pledge throughout the year by visiting www.justice.gov/usao-mdal/safe-student-pledge and submitting a request.
The SAFE Student Pledge initiative is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national program that has been historically successful in bringing together law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison Following the Fentanyl Poisoning of an Auburn TeenagerRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On October 10, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 23-year-old Jay Quan Adams, a resident of Auburn, Alabama, to 144 months in prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Orleans Field Division. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Fentanyl is a deadly drug that is destroying lives and devastating families,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “This case is a tragic example of the toll the drug is taking on communities right here in the Middle District of Alabama. My office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of anyone selling these deadly pills.”
“Yesterday’s sentence brings a measure of justice to the victim’s family,” said Special Agent in Charge Hofer. “Fentanyl is a silent killer that has claimed countless lives, and this case is a reminder of the dangers of the synthetic opioid. We must continue to educate ourselves, and our communities, about the risks associated with fentanyl in hopes of preventing future tragedies.”
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 26, 2021, law enforcement responded to a report of a teenager found unresponsive in his Auburn home. It was determined that he died as a result of ingesting a pill which, without his knowledge, contained fentanyl. An investigation following the victim’s death revealed that he had gone to Adams’ Auburn residence the previous night and paid Adams $80. On March 29, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Adams’ residence and found numerous pills containing fentanyl. During his plea hearing on May 15, 2024, Adams admitted that he possessed the pills found during the search with the intent to distribute them.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Auburn Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson prosecuted the case.
Elmore County Man Sentenced to 165 Months in Prison Following Federal Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, AL – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Millbrook, Alabama man for possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute the illegal drugs. On October 10, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 44-year-old Derrick Andrea White to 165 months in prison. In addition, the judge ordered that White serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 18, 2023, an Alabama state trooper attempted to stop a vehicle in the city of Wetumpka after observing a vehicle violation. The driver, later identified as White, refused to stop. A pursuit ensued and the trooper observed White throwing objects out of his car window. The vehicle pursuit ended once White reached a dead end and exited the car. White then fled on foot but was apprehended after a short chase. Investigators recovered the items discarded by White during the pursuit. The items were eventually determined to be packages of cocaine and marijuana. During his plea hearing on July 9, 2024, White admitted to possessing the illegal drugs because he intended to distribute them.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated this case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies. Assistant United States Attorneys Justin L. Jones and Eric M. Counts prosecuted the case.
Seventh Member of Houston County Drug Trafficking Organization Receives Federal Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
Montgomery, AL – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that a federal judge has sentenced the last of seven individuals for their roles in a drug distribution operation in Houston County, Alabama. On October 8, 2024, 63-year-old Louis Peter Kellenberger III, a resident of Dothan, Alabama received a sentence of 120 months in prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court records for each co-defendant and evidence presented at Kellenberger’s trial, Michael Antonio Blackmon, also a resident of Dothan, conspired with Kellenberger and five others to obtain and sell methamphetamine from August 2021 through June 2023. An investigation revealed that Kellenberger utilized Blackmon, who was a known distributor of methamphetamine in the area, as a source of supply.
On May 7, 2024, Blackmon received a sentence of 360 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Federal guidelines called for a significant sentence for Blackmon due to his serious criminal history and the quantity of illegal drugs attributed to him. When pronouncing Blackmon’s sentence, the judge also considered that Blackmon used various residences to store and sell illegal drugs and played a managerial or supervisory role in the drug distribution operation.
Other members of the conspiracy and their sentences include: 63-year-old Randall Pitts received a sentence of 188 months in prison on May 8, 2024; 38-year-old Shane Martin received a sentence of 168 months in prison on March 14, 2024; Dreshawn Shiver, 24, received a 96-month sentence on April 18, 2024; 40-year-old Antwuan Ellis received an 87 months sentence on February 22, 2024; finally, Curtis Bagwell received a sentence of 11 months on June 13, 2024. There is no parole in the federal system.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Dothan Police Department, and the Eufaula Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea Wilson and Mark E. Andreu prosecuted.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama Alerts Public to Charity Scams Involving Hurricane Relief EffortsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson issued a public safety alert today advising the public to be vigilant to hurricane relief fraud attempts in the wake of Hurricane Helene and future storms.
“Criminals will use any situation, including natural disasters, to profit from the kindness and generosity of others,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “I encourage all Alabamians to be mindful as they consider participating in donation requests for disaster relief. Using the suggestions listed below will help ensure that donations reach their intended recipient and do not get diverted to those who seek only to enrich themselves.”
On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region and quickly caused major devastation there and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others. Currently, Hurricane Milton is making its way across the Gulf of Mexico and will impact Florida’s west coast this week. As we have seen in the wake of previous national disasters, fraudsters will target victims of the storm along with citizens across the country who want to do what they can to assist individuals affected by the storm. Unfortunately, criminals exploit disasters for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating deceiving websites designed to solicit contributions.
The public should exercise diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene or any other natural disaster. Solicitations can originate from phone calls, texts, social media, e-mail, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings, and other similar methods. Before making a donation to benefit victims of a disaster, individuals should adhere to certain guidelines, including:
- Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
- Do not be pressured into making contributions as reputable charities do not use such tactics.
- Do not respond to any unsolicited communications (e.g., e-mails and texts), and never click links contained within those messages because they may be targeting your personal information, to include bank and credit card account information, and other identifiers such as dates of birth and social security numbers.
- Rather than clicking on a purported link to a charity, verify its legitimacy by utilizing various internet-based resources that may assist in confirming whether the organization is a valid charity.
- Beware of organizations with copy-cat names similar to but not exactly the same as those of reputable charities.
- Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals.
- Know that legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services, and their website will normally end in .org rather than .com.
- Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to deter, investigate, and prosecute fraud in the wake of disasters. More than 50 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Complaints of fraud may be reported online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm. Complaints may also be reported to the NCDF at (866) 720-5721, a hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Georgia Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing a Destructive DeviceRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On October 2, 2024, a federal jury convicted 43-year-old Waylon Blake Gilreath, Sr., a resident of Williamson, Georgia, for possession of an unregistered destructive device, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson.
According to court records and evidence presented during Gilreath’s trial, on March 20, 2024, Montgomery County law enforcement responded to a Hope Hull, Alabama residence following reports of a domestic disturbance. Deputies arrived and found Gilreath sitting on the front porch of the residence. Responding officers were advised of a protection from abuse order prohibiting Gilreath from being on the property. Deputies eventually arrested Gilreath on charges related to the domestic disturbance.
During a search of Gilreath’s vehicle, which was parked on the property, deputies found nine firearms — including handguns and AR-style firearms — numerous rounds of ammunition, several ammunition magazines, and two sets of body armor. Several of the magazines were high-capacity drum style magazines. In addition, deputies located four prescription medication bottles that contained what appeared to be an explosive mixture of some type. Lab analysis later confirmed that the bottles contained two common substances used in exploding targets. Three of the devices were also found to contain shrapnel, which would enhance the destructive power of the devices.
Following this conviction, Gilreath faces a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison with no parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Christopher P. Moore prosecuted.
Montgomery Man Found Guilty of Conspiring to Bring Cocaine into Alabama from TexasRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On September 25, 2024, a federal jury convicted 45-year-old Vanshun Traywick, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, on federal drug conspiracy charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson.
According to court records and evidence presented during Traywick’s trial, in 2020, law enforcement began an investigation related to a suspected drug-trafficking operation bringing cocaine from Texas to Montgomery. The investigation revealed that Traywick ordered kilogram quantities of cocaine from a co-conspirator, 45-year-old Michael Golden, from Houston, Texas. The cocaine would be delivered to Montgomery by another co-conspirator, Rufus Flanagan, 56, also from Houston. On October 20, 2020, law enforcement in Montgomery conducted a traffic stop of a semi-truck driven by Flanagan. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found a bag with approximately one kilogram of cocaine inside. In addition to arranging for the purchase of large quantities of cocaine from Golden, the investigation also revealed that, on October 13, 2020, Traywick purchased two ounces of cocaine from another co-conspirator, 51-year-old Deneco Nettles, also from Montgomery. The jury found Traywick guilty on two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Following his conviction, Traywick faces a sentence between 5 and 40 years in federal prison. Earlier this year, Golden, Flanagan, and Nettles all pleaded guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges. On June 18, 2024, Nettles received a sentence of 18 months in prison. Golden’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 3, 2024. Flanagan’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 5, 2024. A sentencing hearing for Traywick will be scheduled in the coming months.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu, Justin L. Jones, and B. Chelsea Wilson are prosecuting the case.
Former Postal Carrier Sentenced for Mail Theft and FraudRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On September 20, 2024, a federal district judge sentenced 44-year-old James Glover, a former postal carrier and resident of Montgomery, Alabama, to 24 months in prison for his involvement in a fraudulent mail theft and bank fraud scheme, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. Following his prison sentence, Glover will be on supervised release for three years. There is no parole in the federal system. In addition to the two year prison sentence, the judge ordered Glover pay a fine of $2,000 and restitution in the amount of $66,135.09.
According to court records and evidence presented during Glover’s trial, during September and October of 2022, Glover stole checks and documents containing financial information from the mail while performing his duties as a mail carrier. Glover and others would alter the stolen checks or use them to create fraudulent checks. The checks would then be deposited into bank accounts. Previously, 24-year-old Keldric Ortez Jones, also from Montgomery, was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud for his role in the scheme. Jones received a 46-month sentence on March 11, 2024.
“Each day, millions of citizens and businesses count on the postal system to deliver important documents, letters, and payments,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “Mail theft not only disrupts the delivery of the mail itself, but it can also lead to identity theft and financial fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office encourages everyone to remain vigilant and report missing mail or any unusual financial activity right away.”
“The vast majority of U.S. Postal Service employees are honest, hardworking individuals who would never violate the public trust in this manner,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “But for those who do, our special agents, along with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively investigate these federal crimes to protect the sanctity of the U.S. Mail. This sentencing is a testament to the dedication of the investigative and legal teams and should send a strong message to any employee who thinks of conspiring with others to commit check fraud.”
“The Postal Inspection Service will never abide by employees who abuse the trust given to them by the American public,” said Scott Fix, US Postal Inspector-in-Charge of the Houston Division. “May James Glover’s sentencing serve as a deterrent to other employees who may be contemplating engaging in illegal activity with the US Mail.”
The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and the Millbrook Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys J. Patrick Lamb and Tara Ratz prosecuted the case.
Hueytown Man Found Guilty of Plotting to Murder a Federal ProsecutorRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On September 12, 2024, a federal jury in Birmingham, Alabama convicted 32-year-old Michael Roman Black, a resident of Hueytown, Alabama, on charges of threatening to murder and soliciting the murder of a federal prosecutor, and for making false statements to a federal agent, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin P. Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama.
According to court records and evidence presented during his trial, in February 2023, Black was incarcerated in Hoover, Alabama after federal charges were brought against him by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama. While in custody, Black told another inmate about his plan to have one of the federal prosecutors working on his case murdered by two associates “on the outside.” Black shared specific details of who he planned to contact and that he would have them shoot the prosecutor while in her car.
Law enforcement learned of this threat, and after confirming its legitimacy and seriousness, developed an operation to successfully thwart the murder plot. When questioned by federal agents, Black made false statements in an attempt to cover up his plan.
On March 28, 2023, a federal grand jury in Birmingham indicted Black for making a threat to murder a federal official, solicitation to commit murder, and making false statements to a federal agent.
“A threat against a prosecutor or law enforcement professional is a serious offense and a direct attack against our system of justice,” stated Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “I am grateful for the diligent work of law enforcement in identifying and thwarting this plot to take the life of a public servant simply seeking justice for the people of the United States.”
Following his conviction, Black faces a sentence in federal prison of up to 10 years for threatening to murder a federal official, up to 20 years for soliciting a murder, and up to 5 years for making a false statement to a federal agent. A sentencing hearing for Black is scheduled for December 12, 2024. At that hearing, a federal district court judge will determine Black’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Hoover Police Department, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated and assisted on this case, with Assistant United States Attorney John J. Geer, III from the Middle District of Alabama prosecuting.
Enterprise Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Stolen FirearmsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, ALABAMA – On September 9, 2024, a federal judge ordered 29-year-old Aubrey Keith Bryant, from Enterprise, Alabama, to serve 48 months in prison for possessing stolen firearms, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin P. Davidson. The judge also ordered that Bryant remain on supervised release for three years following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to Bryant’s plea agreement and other court records, on March 12, 2022, law enforcement in Troy, Alabama observed Bryant driving a truck recklessly and initiated a traffic stop. During the stop, officers discovered that Bryant’s driver’s license had been revoked. When Bryant exited the vehicle officers saw a bag of suspected methamphetamine and a handgun in plain view. Investigators searched the vehicle and found a total of 10 guns, a suppressor for a firearm, and a checkbook containing checks in another individual’s name. Further investigation revealed that these items had been stolen from a storage unit in Enterprise. On May 2, 2024, Bryant pleaded guilty to possession of the stolen firearms in federal court.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Troy Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Enterprise Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Eric M. Counts prosecuted the case.
Tuscaloosa Woman Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison Following Federal Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – On September 9, 2024, a federal judge ordered that 30-year-old Teaira Nishara Robbins, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, receive a sentence of 87 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin P. Davidson. Following her prison sentence, Robbins will be on supervised release for three years. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and statements made in open court, on December 18, 2022, at 3:30 a.m., deputies observed a vehicle pull into the parking lot of a closed business in Elmore County. The location is within a mile of three state correctional facilities and the area was known for activity relating to the introduction of illegal narcotics into the nearby prisons. Two individuals exited the vehicle and placed what appeared to be bags into the car’s trunk. Deputies then made contact with the vehicle’s occupants and identified Robbins as the driver. Upon searching the vehicle, deputies found packages of marijuana and methamphetamine in the trunk, along with various other contraband. State charges are pending for the other individuals involved in this investigation.
During her plea hearing on January 19, 2024, Robbins admitted that she possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the illegal drug.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted.
Former Correctional Officer Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison Following Federal Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin P. Davidson announced the sentencing of a Montgomery, Alabama man for his role in a conspiracy to bring illegal drugs into a prison. On September 9, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 46-year-old Henry Guice, Jr., a former correctional officer with the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC), to 75 months in prison. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
According to court records and statements made in open court, on June 20, 2023, an ADOC officer and his canine conducted a sniff search of all vehicles in the parking lot of Staton Correctional Facility in Elmore County. The dog alerted on Guice’s vehicle, who was working inside the facility at the time. ADOC officials summoned Guice from his post and conducted a search of the vehicle. Investigators found three bags of suspected methamphetamine inside Guice’s car and two additional bags in his pockets. Drug laboratory analysis confirmed the substance to be methamphetamine.
During his plea hearing in May of this year, Guice admitted that he possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the illegal drug and that he conspired with another individual for that purpose. A federal grand jury also indicted 48-year-old Brad Elliot Gordon, who was an inmate at Staton in June 2023, for his alleged role in the conspiracy. Gordon’s trial is scheduled for February 3, 2025. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the ADOC Law Enforcement Services Division investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Andreu prosecuted.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Committing Armed Robbery and Discharging a Firearm During the CrimeRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin P. Davidson announced that a federal judge sentenced 33-year-old Roddrecius Lavelle Goldsmith, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, to 157 months in prison for his role in a 2023-armed robbery. During the September 4, 2024, sentencing hearing, the judge also ordered that Goldsmith remain on supervised release for five years following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and statements made in open court, on January 20, 2023, Goldsmith entered a gas station on U.S. Highway 231 in Wetumpka, Alabama and walked to the counter. Goldsmith asked the clerk about the location of the store’s bathroom, then pulled out a handgun. Goldsmith forced the clerk to go with him into the restroom where he struck her in the head with the firearm multiple times. Goldsmith then forced the clerk back to the counter and demanded money from the cash register. After retrieving approximately $79 from the register’s drawer, Goldsmith exited the store. The clerk hit a panic button that magnetically locked the doors. When Goldsmith got to his vehicle, he realized he had left his car keys inside the store. Goldsmith returned to the locked gas station doors and fired a round through the glass. Goldsmith reentered the store through the shattered glass door and retrieved his keys. He then fled the scene.
On May 23, 2024, Goldsmith pleaded guilty to interference with interstate commerce by robbery and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
The FBI and the Wetumpka Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Montgomery Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon W. Bates prosecuted the case.
Dothan Woman Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Federal Prison for Her Role in a COVID-19 Era Unemployment SchemeRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – On September 4, 2024, a federal judge ordered that 47-year-old Sommer Le Morris, a resident of Dothan, Alabama, receive a sentence of 65 months in prison for her role in filing fraudulent unemployment claims through an expanded Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act program, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin P. Davidson. Following her prison sentence, Morris will be on supervised release for three years. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
Beginning in March 2020, the CARES Act and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act provided for additional funding and expanded access to unemployment insurance programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Alabama, a person entitled to unemployment benefits could receive additional funding from the Alabama Department of Labor. Alabama law also allowed an employer to file what is called a “partial” claim on behalf of an employee who had been temporarily laid off due to a lack of available work during the pandemic.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, from March 2020 through February 2021, Morris filed partial claims for 15 individuals falsely stating that they were entitled to the expanded unemployment benefits. Based on Morris’s false representations, ADOL made significant payments, some through wire transfers, to Morris and others that they were not eligible to receive. In her plea agreement, Morris admitted to using the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of others to carry out her scheme.
On May 30, 2024, Morris pleaded guilty to mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. During her plea hearing in May, Morris also acknowledged that her scheme caused ADOL to issue $186,478 in fraudulent unemployment claims. The judge ordered Morris to pay restitution to ADOL in that amount.
The United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the Alabama Department of Labor investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Russell T. Duraski prosecuted.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Kentucky Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting a Minor Across State Lines and Engaging in Sex ActsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin P. Davidson announced the sentencing of a Lexington, Kentucky man for unlawfully transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity. On August 28, 2024, a federal judge ordered that 44-year-old Glendon Arnold Carpenter, Jr., serve 240 months in prison. The judge also ordered that Carpenter remain on supervised release for life following his prison term. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
According to court records, in 2023, Carpenter began communicating with a 14-year-old girl in Lee County, Alabama through an online messaging application. After establishing a relationship with the minor, Carpenter convinced her to leave home. In July of 2023, Carpenter traveled to Alabama to pick up the 14-year-old and take her back to Kentucky where the two engaged in sexual activity. The victim’s parents reported her missing and law enforcement immediately began searching for her. Agents located Carpenter and the victim in Kentucky within two days. A federal grand jury indicted Carpenter for unlawfully transporting a minor across state lines in August of 2023. On February 12, 2024, Carpenter pleaded guilty to the charge.
The FBI Mobile Field Office and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Richmond, Kentucky Police Department, and the FBI Louisville Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Tara S. Ratz prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine Being Shipped Through the MailRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – On August 27, 2024, a federal judge ordered that 33-year-old Charles Green Hall, from Montgomery, Alabama, receive a sentence of 360 months in prison for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute the illegal drug, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin P. Davidson. Following his prison sentence, Hall will be on supervised release for five years. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to Hall’s plea agreement and other court records, in March of 2021, federal agents began an investigation related to suspected drug and gang activity in Montgomery. The investigation revealed evidence indicating illegal narcotics were being mailed to Alabama from California. Agents worked with postal inspectors to identify and track two packages intended for Hall that were suspected to contain illegal drugs. When inspectors seized the packages, they found approximately two kilograms of suspected methamphetamine inside each one. Laboratory analysis of the contents confirmed that the packages together contained just over four kilograms of methamphetamine with a 98 percent purity level.
During his plea hearing in May of this year, Hall admitted that he conspired with others to distribute and possess the methamphetamine. A federal grand jury also indicted former postal employee Amber Lashawne Sellers, 30, a resident of Montgomery, for her alleged role in the conspiracy. Sellers’ trial is scheduled for September 23, 2024. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and Brandon W. Bates prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama Announces ResignationRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross has announced his resignation effective August 24, 2024. Next month, he plans to enter private practice in the Birmingham, Alabama area.
Mr. Ross, a graduate of the University of South Carolina and the Duke University School of Law, joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama in 2014 as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA). During the years that followed, Mr. Ross served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney and Acting U.S. Attorney. The United States District Court appointed him to the position of United States Attorney in April of this year.
During his tenure as an AUSA, Mr. Ross prosecuted a variety of cases, focusing primarily on white collar offenses and illegal opioid distribution cases. From 2019 through 2022, he was as the office’s Senior Litigation Counsel, responsible for facilitating training for both new and experienced attorneys. As United States Attorney, Mr. Ross prioritized the prosecution of violent offenders, including those who possessed machine gun conversion devices, and narcotics dealers.
“It has been an honor to serve the people of the Middle District of Alabama over the past ten years,” said Ross. “I am thankful to all the federal, state, and local law enforcement partners for their support during my time with the Justice Department. These agencies, in addition to the professional and talented staff at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, are responsible for any achievements I had as a federal prosecutor and United States Attorney.”
As of August 25, 2024, First Assistant Kevin P. Davidson will serve as Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District. A native of Birmingham, Mr. Davidson has served with the U.S. Attorney’s Office since 2012, prosecuting a variety of crimes with a focus on violent and drug crimes.
Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson served as a Deputy District Attorney in Montgomery County for eight years. Mr. Davidson is a graduate of Auburn University Montgomery. He received his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law
The Middle District of Alabama covers 23 counties, and includes the cities of Alexander City, Andalusia, Auburn, Clanton, Dothan, Enterprise, Eufaula, Greenville, Montgomery, Opelika, Ozark, Phenix City, Prattville, Troy, and Wetumpka. The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for conducting all criminal and civil litigation in the district involving the United States government.
Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Detonating an Explosive Device Outside of the Alabama Attorney General’s OfficeRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 26, of Irondale, Alabama, pleaded guilty in federal court to the malicious use of an explosive device.
“This defendant built a bomb using nails and screws as shrapnel and detonated it outside the Alabama Attorney General's Office, endangering a public institution and members of the community,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Public servants should never be targeted for doing their jobs. The Justice Department will not tolerate such conduct, and we will use every resource at our disposal to prevent these attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.”
"The defendant pleaded guilty today to setting off a shrapnel-filled explosive at public offices in the middle of downtown Montgomery,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Violence and destruction of property will never be tolerated, and the FBI and our partners will continue to work together to ensure anyone who attempts to harm or intimidate the community will be held accountable."
“This attack on the Alabama Attorney General's Office was an attack on the American justice system,” said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach. “Violent, targeted attacks like this, aim to harm, whether physically or through fear and intimidation, the civil servants and public officials who serve our communities and country. ATF is committed to holding those who attack American institutions accountable. I commend the work of the ATF and all our federal and local partners in bringing this defendant to justice.”
“Calvert’s offense was a very serious one and today’s plea ensures that he will face significant consequences,” said United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. “Calvert would not have been held accountable had it not been for the thorough and painstaking investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement agents working together. I am grateful for the efforts of everyone involved.”
According to the plea agreement and other court documents, during the early morning hours of February 24, 2024, Calvert detonated an explosive device outside of the Alabama Attorney General's Office in downtown Montgomery. No injuries were reported. Calvert admitted during the plea hearing to manufacturing the device. He used, nails and screws as shrapnel and accelerants to cause an explosion. Prior to planting the device, Calvert placed stickers on various downtown buildings. The stickers had graphics advocating for various political ideologies. Some stickers included the phrase “Support your local antifa.” As reflected in the plea agreement, Calvert claims he has no affiliation with antifa. After placing the explosive device near the Attorney General’s Office, Calvert lit its fuse and fled the scene. Law enforcement arrested Calvert on April 10, 2024.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for Calvert in the coming months. At that hearing, Calvert faces a minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison with no possibility of parole. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Assistant United States Attorneys Russell T. Duraski and Brett J. Talley for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.
Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Detonating an Explosive Device Outside of the Alabama Attorney General’s OfficeRead the Press Release
Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 26, of Irondale, Alabama, pleaded guilty in federal court to the malicious use of an explosive device.
“This defendant built a bomb using nails and screws as shrapnel and detonated it outside the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, endangering a public institution and members of the community,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Public servants should never be targeted for doing their jobs. The Justice Department will not tolerate such conduct, and we will use every resource at our disposal to prevent these attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.”
“The defendant pleaded guilty today to setting off a shrapnel-filled explosive at public offices in the middle of downtown Montgomery,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Violence and destruction of property will never be tolerated, and the FBI and our partners will continue to work together to ensure anyone who attempts to harm or intimidate the community will be held accountable.”
“This attack on the Alabama Attorney General’s Office was an attack on the American justice system,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “Violent, targeted attacks like this, aim to harm, whether physically or through fear and intimidation, the civil servants and public officials who serve our communities and country. ATF is committed to holding those who attack American institutions accountable. I commend the work of the ATF and all our federal and local partners in bringing this defendant to justice.”
“Calvert’s offense was a very serious one and today’s plea ensures that he will face significant consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama. “Calvert would not have been held accountable had it not been for the thorough and painstaking investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement agents working together. I am grateful for the efforts of everyone involved.”
According to the court documents, Calvert detonated an explosive device during the early morning hours of Feb. 24, outside of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office in downtown Montgomery. No injuries were reported. Calvert admitted during the plea hearing to manufacturing the device himself, using items such as nails and screws to act as shrapnel along with accelerants to cause an explosion. Prior to planting the device, Calvert placed stickers on various state buildings depicting different graphics and advocating for various political ideologies. Some stickers included the phrase “Support your local antifa.” As reflected in the plea agreement, Calvert claims he has no affiliation with antifa. After placing the explosive device near the Attorney General’s Office, Calvert lit its fuse and fled the scene. Law enforcement arrested Calvert on April 10.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for Calvert at a later date. Calvert faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the ATF.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell T. Duraski and Brett J. Talley for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.
Geneva County Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison Following Federal Drug ConvictionRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – Today, United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced the sentencing of a Geneva County, Alabama man for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute the illegal drug. On August 22, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 35-year-old Nicholas Leon Hobbs to 144 months in prison. In addition, the judge ordered that Hobbs serve four years of supervised release following his prison term. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on December 2, 2021, law enforcement officers in Geneva County stopped Hobbs for a traffic violation. In the vehicle, Hobbs had two bags. One bag contained syringes and methamphetamine. The other had multi-colored pills containing methamphetamine. Agents also found a handgun and digital scales. During his May 20, 2024, plea hearing, Hobbs admitted that he possessed the illegal drugs with the intent to distribute them.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Justin L. Jones prosecuted.
Third Individual Sentenced to Federal Prison Following Armed Robbery of Convenience StoreRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama announced the sentencing of the third and final defendant for his role in the armed robbery of a convenience store.
On August 15, 2024, 33-year-old Marquis Shawn McKeithen, from Montgomery, Alabama, received a sentence of 141 months in prison. Earlier, on October 19, 2023, Kallisa Ann Mendenhall, 27, a resident of Tyler, Alabama, received a sentence of 114 months. Finally, on July 13, 2023, 21-year-old Jon'derius Lashon Scott, also from Montgomery, received a 94-month sentence. All three defendants previously pleaded guilty to charges of interference with interstate commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a federal crime of violence.
According to court records, on December 1, 2022, McKeithen, Mendenhall, and Scott entered a convenience store on U.S. Highway 331 in Montgomery County, Alabama, all carrying firearms. Scott watched the door with his firearm out and ready while McKeithen and Mendenhall approached the counter. McKeithen leapt over the counter and grabbed the clerk, placing his gun to the clerk’s head. Mendenhall remained on the other side of the counter with her gun pointed at the clerk. McKeithen demanded the clerk give them money from the register. Once McKeithen had the money, the three exited the station and sped away in a vehicle.
McKeithen’s sentence reflects an additional unrelated charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On March 13, 2022, law enforcement in Shelby County found McKeithen in possession of a handgun. McKeithen has a previous felony conviction and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The FBI Mobile Field Office and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Montgomery Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the Vestavia Hills Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon W. Bates prosecuted the case.
Former Alabama Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Offense for Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – A former Daleville, Alabama, Police Department sergeant, Ryan Phillips, pleaded guilty yesterday to depriving an arrestee of his civil rights under color of law.
“When police officers violate the law and abuse their power, it erodes the community’s trust in the ability of law enforcement to keep them safe and to preserve their rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant abused his power by entering the cell of an arrestee to violently strike him in the face and upper body without cause or reason. The Justice Department is steadfast in its determination to protect the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, including people who are incarcerated, and to hold accountable law enforcement officials who use excessive force.”
“Although police officers are granted authority to maintain law and order, that authority has its limits,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama. “The defendant lost his composure and beat an arrestee inside his cell. This type of excessive force cannot be tolerated. By holding accountable those who disparage the profession by breaking the law, we will protect the reputations of the countless officers who serve honorably.”
“Ryan Phillips clearly violated his position of public trust,” said Acting Assistant Director Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Law enforcement officers take an oath to protect and serve all people and Phillips betrayed that trust. The law enforcement community relies on each other to uphold that sacred oath, and the FBI remains committed to holding those accountable should that oath be violated."”
According to documents submitted and statements made in court, Phillips willfully used unreasonable force against an arrestee identified as D.M. Specifically, while D.M. was inside a jail cell, he and Phillips had a verbal altercation. Phillips removed his badge and firearm, entered D.M.’s cell and hit D.M. in the upper body and face multiple times resulting in bodily injury to D.M., including lacerations and bruising. With the plea agreement, Phillips admitted that he had no legitimate law enforcement purpose for engaging in this conduct, that he acted willfully and that D.M. suffered bodily injury.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Phillips faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Mobile Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.
Former Alabama Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Offense for Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
A former Daleville, Alabama, Police Department sergeant, Ryan Phillips, pleaded guilty yesterday to depriving an arrestee of his civil rights under color of law.
“When police officers violate the law and abuse their power, it erodes the community’s trust in the ability of law enforcement to keep them safe and to preserve their rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant abused his power by entering the cell of an arrestee to violently strike him in the face and upper body without cause or reason. The Justice Department is steadfast in its determination to protect the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, including people who are incarcerated, and to hold accountable law enforcement officials who use excessive force.”
“Although police officers are granted authority to maintain law and order, that authority has its limits,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama. “The defendant lost his composure and beat an arrestee inside his cell. This type of excessive force cannot be tolerated. By holding accountable those who disparage the profession by breaking the law, we will protect the reputations of the countless officers who serve honorably.”
“Ryan Phillips clearly violated his position of public trust,” said Acting Assistant Director Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Law enforcement officers take an oath to protect and serve all people and Phillips betrayed that trust. The law enforcement community relies on each other to uphold that sacred oath, and the FBI remains committed to holding those accountable should that oath be violated."”
According to documents submitted and statements made in court, Phillips willfully used unreasonable force against an arrestee identified as D.M. Specifically, while D.M. was inside a jail cell, he and Phillips had a verbal altercation. Phillips removed his badge and firearm, entered D.M.’s cell and hit D.M. in the upper body and face multiple times resulting in bodily injury to D.M., including lacerations and bruising. With the plea agreement, Phillips admitted that he had no legitimate law enforcement purpose for engaging in this conduct, that he acted willfully and that D.M. suffered bodily injury.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Phillips faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Mobile Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.
Montgomery Man Found Guilty of Selling Fentanyl Pills that Resulted in Another Man’s DeathRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On August 15, 2024, a federal jury convicted 37-year-old Lawrence Coley, III, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, on charges of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute the illegal drug, announced United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross.
According to court records and evidence presented during Coley’s trial, on August 26, 2022, law enforcement received a report of an unresponsive person inside a vehicle at a Montgomery residence. Officers arrived at the location and found a truck in the driveway. The truck’s ignition was on, and doors were locked. Inside they found a lifeless man with no visible signs of trauma or injury that would have caused his death. A medical examiner concluded that the victim died due to the toxic effects of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. The jury heard expert testimony stating that the quantity of fentanyl found in the victim’s blood was four to five times the lethal dose.
An investigation into how the victim obtained the fentanyl revealed that, for over a year, Coley had been supplying the victim with illegal narcotics. These transactions occurred almost daily and sometimes even multiple times a day. The jury also heard testimony verifying that the victim purchased narcotics from Coley on the very morning of his death. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Coley’s residence and found 70 blue pills with “M” marked on one side, and “30” on the opposite side. The pills’ color and markings made them look like pharmaceutical oxycodone tablets. However, lab tests determined the pills were counterfeit and contained fentanyl instead of oxycodone. When officers arrested Coley during a traffic stop, they found him in possession of five additional counterfeit fentanyl pills.
In finding Coley guilty, the jury determined that the fentanyl sold by Coley to the victim caused his death and that Coley intended to distribute the fentanyl pills in his possession.
“Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl have become commonplace in Alabama and throughout the United States,” said United States Attorney Ross. “Everyone should assume that any pill that does not come from a doctor or pharmacy may contain a fatal dose of fentanyl or another deadly drug. My office is committed to holding accountable individuals who sell these dangerous pills.”
“The top priority of the Drug Enforcement Administration is to hold accountable those individuals and drug trafficking organizations who poison our communities with deadly drugs like fentanyl,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer. “Today’s conviction is a step forward in our mission to build teams that save lives and make communities safer. While we celebrate this victory, we must remember the tragic death caused by the callous disregard for human life exhibited by this individual. The conviction sends a clear message: those who choose profit over people will be held accountable.”
Following this conviction, Coley faces a sentence of 20 years to life in federal prison. A sentencing hearing for Coley will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, a federal district court judge will determine Coley’s sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Christopher P. Moore are prosecuting the case.
Former Tennis Coach Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting a Minor Across State Lines and Engaging in Sex ActsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced the sentencing of a former youth tennis coach from Columbus, Georgia for unlawfully transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity. On August 8, 2024, a federal judge ordered that 51-year-old Leroy Thomas Joyner, Jr. serve 300 months in prison. The judge also ordered that Joyner remain on supervised release for life following his prison term. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole. Restitution to Joyner’s victim will be determined at a later date.
According to court records and evidence presented during his January 2024 trial, Joyner previously operated a tennis association in Dale County, Alabama. The association provided lessons to underprivileged children and teens. In September of 2018, law enforcement began an investigation following reports of physical abuse carried out by Joyner against one of his 15-year-old female students. The investigation revealed that, in addition to beating the young victim with a wooden board to influence her to obey him, Joyner began a sexual relationship with her when she was 13. Trial testimony indicated that Joyner engaged in sex acts with the minor in multiple states, including Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina. This sexual exploitation continued until the investigation began in 2018.
“This significant sentence reflects the harm that Joyner inflicted upon his young and vulnerable victim,” said United States Attorney Ross. “I am grateful for the courage shown by the victim in coming forward and the diligence of the investigating agencies. Through the actions of all involved, a predator is off of the street and our communities are safer.”
“Yesterday’s sentencing was the result of law enforcement’s collective efforts to protect the children in our communities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Dale County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this investigation.”
The FBI Mobile Field Office and the Dale County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Russell T. Duraski, Tara S. Ratz, and B. Chelsea Wilson prosecuted.