A Pensacola, Florida man has been sentenced to 93 months in prison for his role in a heroin trafficking operation in Alabama.
Erskine Simmons, 31, was sentenced by the United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama for conspiring to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime.
According to a factual statement Simmons signed in connection with his guilty pleas, Simmons conspired to distribute approximately 36.67 grams of heroin and possessed a firearm in furtherance of that crime.
On May 1, 2017, deputies of the Mobile County Alabama Sheriff’s Office enlisted the aid of a cooperating defendant to introduce them to a heroin dealer known as “G.” After the CD made the introductions, an undercover deputy purchased approximately 4.95 grams of heroin from Simmons for $1000.
The undercover deputy also gave Simmons an additional $150 for the man who drove Simmons to the buy location. Conversations between the undercover deputy and Simmons regarding this transaction were captured on audio tape.
On May 3, 2017, the undercover deputy contacted Simmons, on his own, and set up a buy of an additional 7.71 grams of heroin. The undercover deputy paid Simmons $1000 for the heroin and $150 for Simmons’ driver.
The conversations between Simmons and the undercover deputy for this transaction were captured on audio tape. On May 9, 2017, the undercover deputy purchased an additional 24.01 grams of heroin from Simmons. The undercover deputy paid Simmons $2000 for the heroin and $200 for the driver.
This time, Simmons was aided by a man who drove Simmons to the buy location knowing what Simmons intended to do once they arrived to meet the undercover deputy. Simmons agreed to pay the driver to transport Simmons to the buy location.
To complete the sale of the 24.01 grams of heroin to the undercover deputy, Simmons asked a woman riding with them to exit the vehicle, get into the vehicle of the undercover deputy and give the undercover deputy the heroin.
Deputies arrested Simmons, and his two co-horts immediately after the third transaction and used a drug dog to sniff around the vehicle used by the three to travel to the buy location. The drug dog alerted to the vehicle and it was searched.
Seized from the vehicle was a small quantity of marijuana and a small quantity of cocaine taken from a purse. Also seized from the trunk of the vehicle was a camouflage book bag with an Iberia Firearms, .40 caliber pistol hidden inside.
S Simmons confessed to the three drug crimes and that he possessed the firearm for his protection.
Special Agents of the Department of Homeland Security/ICE investigated the case along with deputies of the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and brought it to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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