A federal grand jury has indicted seven individuals in connection with methamphetamine distribution and conspiracy to distribute the drug across the Northern District of Alabama. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge John M. Clayton.
The indictments, filed separately but relatedly in U.S. District Court, charge four men from Talladega with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine: Flemmings Chatman, 41; LaDaraious Q. Brown, 32; Tramarcus Fomby, 29; and Robert Houston, Jr., 55. Additionally, three other men face charges for the distribution of methamphetamine: Kenneth Honneycutt, 30, from Birmingham; Elijah Brown, 35, from Tuscaloosa; and Brian J. Whatley, 45, from Talladega.
These legal actions are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative. OCDETF is an independent component of the U.S. Department of Justice established in 1982 as a key element of the Attorney General’s strategy to combat transnational organized crime and reduce illicit narcotics availability nationwide through a prosecutor-led, multi-agency enforcement approach. The task force leverages resources and expertise from its partners for long-term investigations into transnational organized crime, money laundering, and major drug trafficking networks.
The investigation was led by the DEA and the Talladega County Drug Task Force with assistance from multiple agencies including the 7th Judicial Major Crimes Unit, Talladega Sheriff’s Office, Talladega Police Department, West Alabama Narcotics Task Force, Pell City Police Department, Jasper Police Department, Oxford Police Department, Alabama State Probation Office, and the Alabama National Guard Counter Drug Task Force.
It is important to note that an indictment contains only charges and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Assistant United States Attorney Alan S. Kirk will be prosecuting this case.