Department of Justice

Birmingham, Ala. – A federal jury yesterday convicted a man of having a firearm in furtherance of drug distribution in Birmingham, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.

The jury returned its guilty verdict against Jonathan Moorer, 28, after two days of testimony before U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon. 

“This guilty verdict confirms that a convicted felon carrying a gun and drugs can only mean harm to the community,” Town said.  “There is no daylight between our federal, state and local law enforcement partners when working to take convicted felons off the street.  Federal bed space in prison is reserved for those who continue to plague our communities with illegal drugs and guns.”

“ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence partnerships as part of Operation Relentless Pursuit focuses on the devastating impact of firearms violence and works with the entire community to deter poor choices and provide alternatives to resolve disputes,” Watson said.   

Evidence at trial proved that during the investigation of another suspected drug dealer, Moorer, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a quantity of marijuana and a loaded semi-automatic pistol.  The jury found that Moorer possessed the marijuana with intent to distribute.  The jury also found Moorer to be a felon in possession of a firearm and that he possessed the same firearm in conjunction with his drug activity.  

The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison.  Having a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory sentence of 5 years in prison per count, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed for the crime.  The charge of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute carries a maximum sentence of 5 years.

ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department, which Assistant U.S Attorneys Bill Simpson and John Camp are prosecuting. 

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