BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Isaiah De’Monte De’Mario Henley, 31, is headed for two decades behind bars after a federal judge handed down a 240-month sentence today for a cocktail of drug and weapons charges. U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona announced the sentencing, a stark warning to anyone pushing poison and packing heat in the Magic City.
Henley pleaded guilty back in March to distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute those same deadly substances, carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, possession of a fully illegal machine gun, and, to add insult to injury, being a convicted felon illegally possessing a firearm. The charges stemmed from a summer of brazen activity documented by federal investigators.
Court records detail how Henley peddled meth and fentanyl to a confidential informant on three separate occasions in July and August of 2024. The operation culminated on August 8th, when law enforcement moved in to arrest Henley immediately after another drug deal went down in West Birmingham. But Henley wasn’t going down easy.
Instead of surrendering, Henley bolted. He ditched a bag, sprinted into a nearby residence, and then made a run for it again, this time tossing a Glock 9mm pistol – illegally modified with a machine gun-conversion device, commonly called a “Glock switch” – into tall grass. It didn’t work. Officers quickly apprehended Henley and recovered the weapon, a fully loaded extended magazine, 465 grams of methamphetamine, and over 7 grams of fentanyl.
The bust was a joint operation led by the FBI, with crucial support from the Vestavia Hills Police Department. The evidence painted a clear picture: Henley wasn’t just dealing drugs, he was willing to escalate to dangerous levels, arming himself with a weapon capable of rapid, devastating fire. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the maximum sentence.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco delivered the 240-month sentence, a message that the federal government is serious about cracking down on drug trafficking and gun violence. Henley’s case serves as a grim reminder that the streets of Birmingham – and across the nation – are being watched, and those who choose to operate outside the law will face severe consequences. The recovered fentanyl alone could have killed dozens.
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Related Federal Cases
- “Ziggy” Yancey Gets 19 Years for Meth & Stolen Gun · Alabama
- “Mighty Whitey” Elliott & Crew Busted in Meth & Gun Sweep · Alabama
- “Mighty Whitey” Elliott Gets 210 Months for Meth Ring · Alabama
- Houston Green Gets 10 Years for Meth and Guns · Alabama
- Felon Butler Gets 9 Years for Gun Possession & Escape · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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