Sean P. Costello U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama
A man from Fairhope, Alabama, has been sentenced to 138 months in federal prison for drug trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm. Christopher Lynn Barnwell, 36, was convicted of selling methamphetamine and fentanyl to confidential informants on four separate occasions between November 2023 and January 2024 while under federal supervised release.
On January 22, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Barnwell’s trailer. They found 188.6 grams of methamphetamine with a purity of 96% and 18.46 grams of fentanyl inside a safe that Barnwell accessed. He admitted ownership of the drugs. Officers also recovered a Ruger 9mm pistol hidden beneath an air vent near the safe.
During the search, Barnwell led agents to an outdoor shed containing additional drug paraphernalia and mannitol, a substance commonly used to dilute drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl. While searching the shed, Barnwell acknowledged his awareness of the legal consequences due to his previous felony convictions that made it illegal for him to possess a firearm.
Investigators searched Barnwell’s phone and found text messages related to drug transactions. In one message, he mentioned meeting a customer after visiting his federal probation officer’s office. The phone also contained photos and videos depicting drugs, cash, and paraphernalia.
United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Barnwell to serve 108 months in prison for drug and firearms offenses and an additional consecutive term of 30 months for violating supervised release conditions. Upon completion of his sentence, Barnwell will be required to serve ten years of supervised release with mandatory drug testing and treatment. He was also ordered to pay $300 in special assessments and forfeit the firearm.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello for the Southern District of Alabama announced the sentencing: “The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, which focuses on combating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational organizations, human smuggling, child trafficking crimes, and violent criminal aliens through interagency cooperation.
