Bessemer Man Indicted on Drug and Gun Charges Leads to Federal Court Appearance
In a shocking turn of events, a Bessemer man was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Staci G. Cornelius, on charges of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance containing a detectable amount of heroin and fentanyl, possession of a machine gun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and illegally possessing a machine gun. The charges stem from events that occurred in March 2022 in Jefferson County.
Tahji Alonzo Orr, 24, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force on January 4, 2023. The U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson announced the arraignment today.
Orr was ordered detained pending trial. The maximum penalty for possession with the intent to distribute marijuana is five years in prison. The maximum penalty for possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance containing a detectable amount of heroin and fentanyl is 20 years in prison. The minimum penalty for carrying a machine gun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime is life in prison. The maximum penalty for possession of a machine gun is 10 years in prison.
Orr was found to be in possession of a machine gun, specifically a Glock 9mm pistol equipped with a “Glock switch” – an after-market device designed to illegally convert a semiautomatic Glock pistol into a fully automatic machine gun. The ATF investigated the case along with U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Hoover Police Department and the Bessemer Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Royster is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Tahji Alonzo Orr’s current status is detained pending trial.
Beside his current status, Orr faces severe penalties. The life sentence for carrying a machine gun during a drug trafficking crime is one of the most severe punishments he could face. This case highlights the importance of combating gun and drug trafficking in the community.
While Orr’s trial has yet to begin, one thing is clear – the consequences of his actions could be severe. As the case unfolds, the public will be kept informed of any updates.
Related Federal Cases
- Jason Jeremiah Jones, Cocaine and Heroin Trafficking, Alabama 2020 – 17.5 Years · Alabama
- Juan Luis Salas-Jimenez, Gun and Drug Charges, Alabama 2021 · Alabama
- Deon Evans, Gun and Drug Trafficking, Illinois 2022 · Indiana
- Gilberto Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Cocaine Trafficking, Alabama 2021 · Georgia
- Devon Martez Easley, Gun and Drug Charges, Alabama 2020 · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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