United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announces that Colby Roy Austin pled guilty to a two count indictment for 21 USC 841(a)(1) and 18 USC 922(g)(1), Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person (Felon). Austin faces a statutory penalty of five to forty years on count one and up to ten years on count two. The sentencing date is set for Jan. 31, 2020.
Austin admitted to the following facts at his plea hearing. On Feb. 18, 2019, deputies from Choctaw County, Alabama received a call for a car accident. When the deputies arrived the driver, later identified as Austin, was slouched over the steering wheel and unresponsive. Deputies used a baton to break the passenger window. When this happened, Austin woke up and was asked to get out of the car. When Austin opened the door a firearm was visible in the driver side door. Austin had previously been convicted of a felony offense and admitted he knew he was not allowed to possess a firearm. Austin was placed into custody. In a brown bag hanging from the rear view mirror was a bag containing approximately 10 grams of ice/methamphetamine. Other items recovered from the vehicle included a pipe for smoking drugs, digital scales, and clear plastic bags. All these items are used for drug distribution.
The Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case and Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Anderson and Alex Lankford prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
