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Leader of Northeast Birmingham Drug Ring Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison

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BIRMINGHAM – A federal judge today sentenced the leader of one of Birmingham’s largest cocaine- and heroin-trafficking rings to nearly 23 years in federal prison, 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.

 

U.S.  District Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced PATRICK DEWAYNE HALL, 37, to 22 years, 11 months in prison for his role in leading the illegal drug-trafficking organization based in northeast Birmingham. Hall pleaded guilty in January 2016 to participating in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and to various other drug charges, including money laundering and using a telephone to traffic drugs.

A federal grand jury in October returned a 72-count indictment charging Hall and 23 others with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and cocaine. In addition to being charged in the conspiracy, various defendants also were charged with distributing drugs and laundering money.

The investigation focused on Hall, who, along with one of his lieutenants, LOVODAS DEANGELO BLAKE, 27, was arrested in the early morning of Aug. 2 by an FBI SWAT team after the duo hid for several hours in the attic of a Northeast Birmingham home. The pair ran to the house after leading federal agents on a high-speed chase through northeast Birmingham, then ditching their Chevrolet Tahoe in the front yard of a home. FBI agents recovered more than nine kilograms of cocaine and almost $20,000 from the vehicle.

Among the defendants sentenced today was DAVID WAYNE McDANIEL, 24, who is widely known by his rap artist moniker, “Northside Weezy.”  McDaniel received a seven-year, six-month sentence.  Also sentenced were TEDDY TONELL DAVIS, 34, to 15 years, eight months in federal prison, and COREY LIONEL PITTS, 38, to 10 years in prison. Last month, Judge Coogler sentenced ROBERT LYNN THOMAS JR., 26, to five years in prison, JESSTIFUR JAHALIA FERRARI HURST, 29, to 10 years in prison, RODRIQUIS TYRONE STURDIVANT, 26, to two years and 11 months in prison, ISRAEL BRAVO OLASOAGAR, 38, to three years, 10 months in prison, and JESSE TYRONE HURST, 58, to five years in prison. The remaining defendants are scheduled for sentencing in the coming months.

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 23 money judgments levied against the defendants for $10 million.

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. Attorneys Greg Dimler and Kathryn McHugh prosecuted the case.

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