A federal judge recently sentenced the 18th and last defendant involved in a large-scale drug trafficking scheme.
These sentences are the result of a three-year Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force probe into a drug-trafficking operation in Western Jefferson County, which resulted in an indictment issued Oct. 29, 2019 that implicated 18 individuals, according to an Aug. 24 U.S. Department of Justice news release.
“As a result of the sustained and extensive investigation by our many law enforcement partners, this Birmingham-based drug trafficking network has been dismantled," U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona said in the release. “We are thankful for the collaboration of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in working diligently to disrupt the pipeline of deadly drugs into our communities.
Adrien Hiram Taylor, 33, of Bessemer, Ala., was sentenced to life in prison, while Leanthony Martez Gillins, 35, also of Bessemer, was sentenced to 232 months for their involvement in a multi-million dollar conspiracy to sell or obtain heroin, fentanyl and cocaine with the intention to later sell, the release reported. Janaya Lenise Bibb, 36, of McCalla, Ala., was sentenced to 40 months in jail for conspiracy to distribute heroin.
“The sentencing of these three drug traffickers puts the final nail in the coffin of their drug organization,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. said in the release. “I continue to be proud of the great work of the FBI’s North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force and our partners that work every day to disrupt, dismantle and destroy the criminal organizations that bring their poison and violence to our neighborhoods.”
The sentencing was announced by Escalona, Sharp and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey, the release reported. Several law enforcement organizations, including the FBI, IRS, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the Bessemer Police Department, were involved in the case.
“These convictions and sentencing of all of those involved send a strong message to the criminal element in western Jefferson County and beyond," Bessemer Police Chief Michael Roper said in the release. "It is my hope that other criminals will have second thoughts before they engage in this type of activity."
