Ward, Alexanders Lead Fentanyl Ring in Birmingham

Nine people are facing federal charges in a deadly drug ring that flooded Birmingham with heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine between 2015 and 2016. At the center of the operation: ANTHONY LEVY WARD, 35, of Chelsea; his father ANTHONY LEVY ALEXANDER, 56; and his aunt BETTY LEVY ALEXANDER, 50—all of Birmingham. The indictment, returned last month and unsealed today after Betty Alexander’s federal arrest, charges all nine with conspiracy to distribute massive quantities of the drugs across Jefferson County.

The 57-count indictment, filed in U.S. District Court, also names FERLANDO CARMISE MIMS, 19, ONANDAS CARMECE BEARD, 19, COREY DARNELLE HAYNES, 36, all of Birmingham, and JOSE AGUSTIN GUTIERREZ, 31, JESUS UBALDO MONTOYA, 22, and MARAHAI ARDIZO ENRIQUEZ, 24, of Phoenix, Ariz. The ring allegedly distributed heroin cut with fentanyl—a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin—where just a few grains can be lethal. U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance warned that users had no idea if their heroin was actually fentanyl in disguise.

Ward, his father, his aunt, Mims, and Gutierrez are each charged with conspiring to traffic 1,000 grams or more of heroin, a crime carrying a minimum 10-year sentence and up to life. Ward, a prior state and federal drug convict, now faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years if convicted. Meanwhile, Ward, Gutierrez, Montoya, and Enriquez are charged with conspiring to traffic five kilograms or more of cocaine—another life offense, with a $10 million fine possible.

Haynes and Beard face charges of conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, punishable by five to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Mims faces two counts of distributing fentanyl in September 2015 and a joint count with Beard for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl in April 2016. Mims is also charged with five separate counts of heroin distribution or possession with intent between December 2015 and August 2016. Beard faces an additional count of distributing heroin in October 2015, while Haynes is charged with two counts—one in November 2015, one in June 2016.

Gutierrez, Montoya, and Enriquez are specifically charged with possessing with intent to distribute at least five kilograms—more than 11 pounds—of cocaine between August 9 and August 11, 2016. The indictment also includes special findings by the grand jury assigning specific drug quantities to each defendant. Prosecutors are seeking a $1.7 million monetary judgment against all defendants as proceeds from the illegal operation.

‘DEA and its law enforcement partners have saved lives by taking these people off the streets,’ Vance said. Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam of the DEA added, ‘There is a disturbing trend across the nation… of heroin dealers adding fentanyl to increase potency.’ The investigation underscores the deadly reality of Alabama’s opioid crisis—where profit trumps lives, and a single dose can be a death sentence.