BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Frederick Leonard Temple, Jr., 35, known on the streets as “Cutt” and “Cutthroat,” will spend the next 36 years of his life behind bars after a federal judge handed down a 432-month sentence for a cocktail of violent drug and firearms offenses. The sentence, delivered by U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala, slams the door on Temple’s operation and sends a message, however late, to others pushing poison and packing heat in the Magic City.
Temple was convicted in February following a jury trial on charges including possession of a machine gun, two counts of distributing fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and the particularly damning charge of possessing a machine gun in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. The case, built on hard evidence gathered by multiple agencies, revealed a brazen disregard for both the law and the safety of the community – particularly the vulnerable.
“This sentence sends a clear message that violent, criminal conduct like Defendant Temple’s will not be tolerated,” stated U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. While such pronouncements are standard fare, the sheer length of the sentence speaks volumes. Escalona’s office, along with federal investigators, clearly aimed to make an example out of Temple. The feds aren’t playing around when it comes to firearms and fentanyl.
The bust that brought Temple down went down on January 26, 2022, when the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force and Birmingham Police Department executed a search warrant at Temple’s residence. What they found wasn’t just drugs; it was an arsenal. Fourteen firearms were seized, including a Glock 9 mm pistol illegally modified with a “Glock switch” – turning it into a dangerous machine gun. Alongside the weapons were high-capacity magazines, including 100- and 50-round drums, a mountain of ammunition, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and tools of the trade like digital scales and drug paraphernalia. Disturbingly, the search took place in a bedroom where an infant was present.
ATF Special Acting Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz emphasized the collaborative effort, stating, “Today’s sentencing illustrates the continuous commitment that the ATF shares with our state, local, and federal law-enforcement partners to combat the illegal possession of firearms, fight violent crime, and remove narcotics from the streets.” Translation: this wasn’t a one-agency win. It was a coordinated takedown, and the ATF is keen to highlight its role in keeping communities safe – or at least, appearing to.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristy M. Peoples and Alan Kirk secured the conviction and lengthy sentence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and the Birmingham Police Department all contributed to the investigation. While Temple’s operation is dismantled, the flow of fentanyl and illegal firearms continues to plague Alabama. This case is a temporary victory in a much larger, ongoing war.
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Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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