⏱ 2 min read
Darrie Dewayne Ziegler, a 32-year-old convicted felon from Birmingham, Alabama, was caught with a stolen 9mm pistol, marijuana, and ammunition at the Budgetel Inn and Suites in Fairfield in August 2024. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Birmingham Police Department received a tip about Ziegler’s activities, leading to his arrest. Ziegler pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in July 2025. The sentence of 92 months in prison reflects the seriousness of the crime and the ongoing threat Ziegler posed to public safety.
The investigation began with a tip from Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama, which alerted authorities to Ziegler’s involvement in selling drugs and possessing firearms at a local motel. When officers searched Ziegler’s hotel room, they found a Shadow Systems MR920 9mm pistol with a green dot sight, an extended magazine, marijuana, and ammunition. The Shadow Systems 9mm pistol and several other guns had been reported stolen just a week earlier.
Law enforcement officials praised the sentence, noting that it sends a strong message to violent offenders who continue to disregard the law. U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. commended the work of prosecutors and law enforcement partners in protecting the citizens of the Northern District of Alabama and removing repeat offenders like Ziegler from the community.
ATF Special Agent in Charge James VanVliet emphasized the alarming nature of the case, involving a violent felon armed with stolen firearms and a machinegun, and distributing narcotics. The combination of criminal activity represents a significant concern for public safety, and the ATF will continue to work with law enforcement partners to investigate and charge individuals like Ziegler who make neighborhoods unsafe.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Alabama
- Location: AL
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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