Eight Mile Meth Dealer Gets 13+ Years

MOBILE, AL – James Jerome Reed, 36, of Eight Mile, Alabama, is headed to federal prison for over thirteen years after being sentenced for a trifecta of serious federal crimes: drug distribution, illegal firearm possession, and using a weapon in connection with his drug dealing. The sentence, handed down by United States District Court Judge William H. Steele on May 21, 2019, sends a clear message – peddling poison and packing heat doesn’t pay in the Southern District of Alabama.

Reed pled guilty back in September of 2018 to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and the particularly damning charge of using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during or in relation to a drug trafficking felony. This wasn’t Reed’s first rodeo with the law; court records show prior drug felony convictions in Mobile County Circuit Court, escalating the severity of his current offenses.

The sentencing breakdown is as follows: Judge Steele ordered 100 months imprisonment for the drug charge and the felon in possession charge, to run concurrently. However, the gun charge carried a mandatory consecutive sentence of 60 months, bringing the total to a hefty 160 months – thirteen years and four months – behind bars. Upon his release, Reed will also be subject to five years of supervised release, ensuring continued monitoring by federal authorities.

Federal prosecutors weren’t letting Reed off easy, either. While no fine was imposed, Judge Steele ordered Reed to pay $300 in special mandatory assessments. This is standard practice in federal cases, covering the costs associated with the court system. Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the substantial sentence.

The investigation, a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Mobile Police Department, clearly demonstrated Reed’s dangerous combination of drug dealing and firearm access. The ATF’s expertise in tracing firearms and disrupting illegal gun trafficking was crucial to building the case against Reed, alongside the on-the-ground work of Mobile PD.

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement of Reed’s sentencing, emphasizing the office’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking organizations and taking violent offenders off the streets. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who choose to profit from the misery of others and endanger public safety will face the full weight of federal law.

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