MEMPHIS, TN – Jamaal Derrell Maxwell, 30, is headed to federal prison for over eight years after authorities caught him peddling methamphetamine and illegally distributing firearms across Memphis. Maxwell was sentenced Thursday to eight years and five months for a litany of federal offenses, including selling meth, unlawful firearm possession, possessing a firearm during drug trafficking, and operating as an unlicensed firearms dealer.
The bust unfolded between February 2nd and April 3rd, 2024, when Maxwell allegedly supplied over 500 methamphetamine pills and four firearms – two semi-automatic rifles, one assault-style rifle, and a shotgun – to a confidential informant and an undercover ATF agent. Court documents reveal Maxwell wasn’t just moving drugs; he was actively running a black market gun shop without a license, a particularly dangerous combination in a city already grappling with gun violence.
What makes this case even more damning is Maxwell’s prior criminal history. He was previously convicted in Oklahoma in 2022 for the heinous crime of inducing a minor into prostitution, a felony that already barred him from legally owning any firearms. Despite this, Maxwell brazenly continued to traffic both drugs and weapons, demonstrating a clear disregard for the law and public safety. The fact that he was selling guns *while* dealing meth triggered the harsher penalty for possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
“Maxwell’s actions put lives at risk and fueled the cycle of violence in our community,” stated Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the commitment to prosecuting violent offenders and disrupting criminal networks in Memphis and surrounding areas. This case is part of a broader Violent Crime Initiative targeting gang members and their associates.
The investigation was spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with prosecution handled by Trial Attorneys Marcus Johnson and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, alongside Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neal Oldham and Wendy Cornejo from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. This multi-agency effort highlights the ongoing federal push to combat violent crime in the region.
Maxwell’s conviction serves as a stark warning: those who profit from the deadly combination of drugs and firearms will face the full force of federal law. The Grimy Times will continue to track this case and report on the ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal enterprises operating in Memphis and beyond. This sentencing is a small victory, but the fight against drug and gun violence is far from over.
Related Federal Cases
- Jamaal Derrell Maxwell, Methamphetamine and Firearms Trafficking, Tennessee 2024 · New York
- James Johnson, Meth Trafficking, Tennessee 2024 · Oklahoma
- Devin Baker, Methamphetamine Trafficking, TN 2024 · Oklahoma
- Live Nation, Antitrust Lawsuit, New York NY, 2024 · Nevada
- Chad Piazza Admits Meth Trafficking Conspiracy, Beaumont TX, 2014 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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