Four Members of Large-Scale Cocaine/Heroin Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Federal Prison

BIRMINGHAM – A federal judge today sent to prison four members of one of Birmingham’s largest cocaine- and heroin-trafficking rings, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, FBI Special Agent in Charge Roger C. Stanton, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Veronica Hyman-Pillot and Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale.

Among those sentenced was ANTHONY DEJUAN WILLIAMS, 46, of Birmingham, who a federal jury convicted in May of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, along with other drug counts including distribution and using a telephone to further drug-trafficking crimes. The jury also convicted Williams of possessing firearms after previously being convicted of a felony.

U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Williams to 24 years and five months in prison.

According to trial evidence, federal agents arrested Williams in October 2015 at his home on Sun Valley Road after finding drugs, guns and a drug repackaging facility on the property. Agents found more than a pound each of heroin and cocaine in the washing machine. They recovered a pistol from Williams’ car, and a Cobray Street Sweeper 12-gauge shotgun, a PWA AR-15 5.56 mm rifle, a Mossberg pistol grip 12-gauge shotgun, and an SKS 7.62 x 39 mm rifle in a shed on the property. In a larger outbuilding on Williams’ property, agents found two large metal presses used to repress kilograms of cocaine and heroin after adding cheaper ingredients to boost their drug supply.

The three other defendants from the drug ring based in northeast Birmingham who were sentenced today are JAMES MARION ROBINSON III, 45, and ROYCE THERMON JOHNSON, 31, both of Birmingham, and CANDIDA ARROYO LEIMAKAM OCASIO, 36, of Beaumont, Texas.

Judge Coogler sentenced Johnson to 20 years in prison. He sentenced Robinson to five years in prison, and Ocasio to two years and four months in prison.

The leader of the heroin and cocaine ring, Patrick DeWayne Hall, 37, pleaded guilty in January to the drug-trafficking conspiracy and various other drug charges, including money laundering and using a telephone to traffic drugs. In June, Judge Coogler sentenced Hall to 23 years in prison.

One of Hall’s lieutenants, Lovodas DeAngelo Blake, 27, pleaded guilty in January to the conspiracy and other drug-related charges. Judge Coogler sentenced Blake in July to 10 years in prison.

Other defendants previously sentenced are David Wayne McDaniel, 24, who is widely known by his rap artist moniker, “Northside Weezy.”  McDaniel received a seven-year, six-month sentence. His mother, Deangela Kay McDaniel, 42, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison. Deandre Jadarious Hall, 22, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, Eric Demond Hall, 40, to seven years, Teddy Tonell Davis, 34, to  15 years, eight months, Corey Lionel Pitts, 38, to 10 years, Robert Lynn Thomas Jr., 26, to five years, Jesstifur Jahalia Ferrari Hurst, 29, to 10 years, Rodriquis Tyrone Sturdviant, 26, to two years and 11 months, Israel Bravo Olasoagar, 38, to three years and 10 months, and Jesse Tyrone Hurst, 58, to five years.

Four defendants remain to be sentenced. They are Brandon Dion Lewis, 31, and Lena Kenya Irvine, 30, both of Birmingham, Sonja Denise Mitchell, 55, of McCalla, and Justice Martinique Holden 21, of Huntsville.

Twenty-one defendants have been convicted in the case. The prosecution resulted in the forfeiture of large amounts of cash, four vehicles valued at more than $160,000, five parcels of real property valued at more than $300,000, and money judgments totaling $10 million levied against the defendants.

The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and other agency members of the FBI’s North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Dimler prosecuted the case.

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