Federal Jury Convicts Birmingham Man on Drug and Gun Charges
BIRMINGHAM – A federal jury on Wednesday evening, convicted a Birmingham man, of possessing with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intention to distribute, two counts of carrying a gun in relation to a drug-trafficking crime, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine on a second occasion, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E, Town and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
Evidence at the trial proved that on October 2, 2017, JARRETT DENARD BOYKINS, 28, of Birmingham, was found in the Pleasant Grove City Park after dark with more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm. Approximately six months later, Boykins was stopped by a Homewood police officer and found to have approximately 152 tablets that contained methamphetamine in a diaper bag in the back seat of the vehicle next to his infant child. Also inside the diaper bag was another firearm. On October 2, 2018, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives agents along with officers from the Birmingham Police Department travelled to a residence in to arrest Boykins. Upon entering the residence, agents found Boykins in possession of another firearm, a non-controlled substance that was packaged for sale to appear like methamphetamine, and a large quantity of various calibers of ammunition scattered throughout the residence.
“This conviction serves as notice to every individual engaged in illegal narcotics distribution”, Town said. “Drug dealers who arm themselves to further their illegal drug trade have a bunk waiting for them in federal prison.”
“This sentence illustrates that the shooting cycle will be disrupted by the use of law enforcement and community partnerships,” Watson said. “ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Centers focus on removing the illegal firearms that affect our neighborhoods”.
Boykins will be sentenced by District Court Judge Abdul K. Kallon in June.
The penalty for possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine is a minimum of 10 years in prison.
The minimum penalty for carrying a gun in relation to a drug crime is 5 years in prison. However, based on the second conviction for possessing a gun in furtherance of another drug crime, the penalty requires an extra 5 years.
The maximum penalty for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison. Due to Boykins’ three prior robbery first-degree convictions at the time of his arrest in this case, this sentence could be increased in light of his extensive criminal history.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, along with the Pleasant Grove Police Department, Homewood Police Department, and Birmingham Police Department investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Brad Felton and Alan Baty prosecuted.
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