Pinson Man Sentenced 10 Years for Cocaine Conspiracy

A Pinson, Alabama man, Darnell Watkins, 61, is headed to the slammer for 10 years after being sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.

Court documents reveal Watkins pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2022. He was part of a larger crime ring that supplied cocaine and heroin in south Alabama, according to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

The investigation revealed that James Harding, Jr., supplied the cocaine and heroin from Birmingham, which was then distributed in Daphne and Fairhope by other members of the organization, including Darrell Williams. Harding and Williams were convicted by a federal jury in Mobile in October 2022, with Harding receiving a 480-month imprisonment sentence and Williams getting 324 months.

According to court documents, Watkins played a key role in connecting the conspirators with Harding and arranging for the delivery and transportation of the drugs, as well as the payment of the drug money.

United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer handed down the 10-year sentence and ordered Watkins to be placed on supervision by the United States Probation Office for 5 years after his release from custody. No fine was imposed, but Judge Moorer ordered Watkins to pay $100 in special assessments.

The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, the Safe Streets Task Force, and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case in the United States Attorney’s Office.

The sentencing is a significant blow to the larger crime ring, which had been operating in south Alabama for an extended period. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to disrupting and dismantling organized crime in the region.