Federal Operation Netted 36 Arrests
By
Sherri Blevins
A federal operation netted 36 arrests. On Tuesday, October 15, 2019, U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and representatives from eight counties in North Alabama held a press conference to announce the indictment of 38 individuals and the arrests of 36 that resulted from the cooperation between county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. During the press conference, Madison County Sheriff Turner stated, “I have been in law enforcement for over 27 years. I have worked narcotics, and I have worked the street for gang investigations. Not ever have I seen the type of working relationship between local and state agencies with the federal government like I see now. This is what law enforcement is supposed to be about. Taking people off the streets and putting them in federal custody is the way it is supposed to be done.” Sheriff Turner’s comments related to information released by U. S. Attorney Jay Town’s office about the October 9, 2019, federal operation focused on drug trafficking that led to a large number of arrests. The information from the press release follows:
A joint federal, state, and local law
enforcement initiative has resulted in the arrests of 36 individuals on a
variety of criminal charges, including drug trafficking, money laundering,
using communication facilities to facilitate drug trafficking and various
firearms offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town, DEA Assistant Special
Agent in Charge Clay Morris, FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.,
and United States Postal Inspector in Charge, Houston Division, Adrian
Gonzalez. The majority of the defendants
were arrested in north Alabama; however, some defendants were arrested in
California, Iowa, Virginia, and Tennessee.
“There is no daylight between local, state and
federal law enforcement,” Town said. “These indictments represent the hard work
of many of our law enforcement partners and exemplify our global efforts of
taking on the most dangerous criminals menacing our neighborhoods. Our
relationships across the board have never been stronger.”
“These arrests are indicative of DEA’s
commitment to rid our communities of drug trafficking organizations determined
to profit on the backs of addiction,” said Morris. “Citizens in
Northern Alabama can rest assured that the DEA and our law enforcement partners
are determined to ensure these communities remain safe and a great place to
live. The success of this investigation
is an outstanding example of our law enforcement community’s resolve and
determination.”
“North Alabama is safer today as a result of
this operation,” Sharp said. “This was an outstanding example of law
enforcement partnerships working together to remove dangerous criminals from
our neighborhoods.”
“The Postal Service has no interest in being the
unwitting accomplice to anyone using the U.S. Mail to distribute illegal drugs
or other harmful substances,” Gonzalez said. “Postal Inspectors will continue
to work with our local and federal law enforcement partners to investigate and
hold accountable those who misuse the U.S. Mail. Through our joint efforts, we
have dismantled a criminal organization that posed a direct threat to various
communities in multiple states.”
“We thank our State and Federal partners for
their efforts and support in helping rid our community of illegal activity,”
Madison County Sheriff, Kevin Turner said. “We value our partnerships and will
continually look for opportunities to enhance our ability to protect and serve
all of Madison County.”
In the spring of 2018, Special Agents of the
DEA, and members of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, Lawrence County
Sheriff’s Office and ALEA began an investigation involving quantities of
high-quality methamphetamine being sold in Morgan and Lawrence County. Agents
quickly learned that the methamphetamine was being distributed not only in
those areas but also in the surrounding areas as far south as Cullman and as
far north as Tennessee, by multiple affiliated individuals. Agents also learned
that the methamphetamine was coming from the San Bernardino area of California.
During the investigation, over 74 pounds of
“ice” methamphetamine, a kilo of cocaine hydrochloride, and 46 grams of “crack”
cocaine were seized. Twenty guns were seized, including two assault rifles and
a short barrel shotgun. Some of the guns seized were identified as stolen. Over
$123,000 was seized by federal agencies. This amount does not include amounts
of money seized and forfeited by state and local agencies.
DEA, FBI, and USPIS, investigated the case,
which Mary Stuart Burrell is prosecuting.
Even though the federal operation netted 36 arrests,
the charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is
presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of
law.
