In March, Fischer pleaded guilty before U.S. [...]]]>

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal judge yesterday sentenced Norman David Ray Fischer, 41, of Owens Cross Roads, to 211 months in prison on gun and drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.

In March, Fischer pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Abdul K. Kallon to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

“As this sentence demonstrates, drug-dealing felons with guns face stiff penalties under federal law,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “It is a priority of my office to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute these crimes.”

“ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence partnerships with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office focuses on the devastating impact of firearms violence and works with the entire community to reduce the potential for violent crime,” ATF SAC French stated.

The ATF investigated the case along with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit and SWAT Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Becher prosecuted the case.

United States District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Shaun Jamar Harris, 32, of Miami, Florida, to 70 months in prison for [...]]]>

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Florida man was sentenced recently for a bank robbery in Anniston, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

United States District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Shaun Jamar Harris, 32, of Miami, Florida, to 70 months in prison for bank robbery. Harris pleaded guilty to the charge in November 2020.

“As today’s sentence makes plain, bank robbery is a serious federal offense that carries serious prison time.” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “I want to thank the FBI and the Anniston Police Department for their work investigating this case.”

According to the plea agreement, on January 10, 2020, Harris and his accomplice, Christopher Jermain Spann, robbed the Regions Bank branch on Greenbrier Dear Road in Anniston. Spann went into the bank while Harris waited in the car. Spann handed the bank teller a note written by Harris that read, “ALL BIG BILL N THE BAG. NO DIE PICK OR TRACK I HAVE A GUN WILL KILL YOU.” The teller placed $1720.10 in a plastic bag provided by Spann and gave the bag back to him. Spann fled the bank and ran to a white 2016 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Harris. Harris drove recklessly out of the bank parking lot and was later stopped going eastbound on Interstate 20 in Cleburne County. Harris and Spann were arrested and taken to the Anniston Police Department.

Christopher Jermain Spann is scheduled for sentencing on June 30th.

FBI investigated the case along with the Anniston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples prosecuted the case.

U.S. District Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Tonya Bird Swain, 43, to 24 months in prison followed by three years of [...]]]>

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Childersburg woman was sentenced recently for engaging in a wire fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

U.S. District Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Tonya Bird Swain, 43, to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for wire fraud. Swain was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $532,724.48 to the victim. Swain pleaded guilty to the charges in January.

According to the plea agreement, Swain embezzled over $500,000 from her former employer, Recycle USA. Swain was employed as the Controller and/or Accounts Manager. She was responsible for ordering, receiving, and disbursing cash for company operations, and for making accounting entries in QuickBooks. On multiple occasions between 2015 and 2017, Swain ordered funds to be delivered via Loomis to Recycle USA. Swain manipulated QuickBooks entries and did not put all the cash in the vault, but instead kept the cash and used it to pay personal expenses.

“This defendant violated the trust bestowed upon her by her employer,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “This sentence sends a message that such schemes to defraud will result in federal prosecution and prison time.”

“Swain violated her employer’s trust when she defrauded them and went to great lengths to conceal her criminal activity,” SAC Sharp said. “This behavior is a serious federal crime and simply won’t be tolerated.”

The FBI investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Beardsley Mark prosecuted.