Leader of a Major Drug Trafficking Organization Operating in Jefferson County Indicted on Drug and Gun Charges

Birmingham, Ala. – A federal indictment unsealed on Monday charges the leader of a major drug trafficking organization and one of his lieutenants on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.

A ten-count indictment filed in the U.S. District Court charges Lumon Andre Layton, aka “Loom”, 49 , of Birmingham, and Cedric Lamar Nelson, aka as “Ced”, 36 , of Midfield,  with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, and distribution of fentanyl between March 2022 and January 2023.

Layton is also charged with five counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, two counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Layton was convicted of Manslaughter on May 2, 2000, in the Circuit Court of Talladega County, Alabama, as well as several drug crimes in Jefferson County, Alabama, prior to 2000. 

According to the indictment, on January 6, 2023, Jefferson County Sherriff deputies executed four search warrants on properties involved in the conspiracy. The deputies seized $1,088,000 from these properties, in addition to five firearms seized during the investigation.

The penalty for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute or distribution of a controlled substance is a minimum mandatory penalty of ten years to life in prison. The maximum penalty for possession with intent to distribute or distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine is life in prison. The penalty for using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime is a minimum mandatory term of five years in prison up to life to run consecutive to any other count. The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 15 years in prison.

The FBI and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.   Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Cross is prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty