FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
January 24, 2018
Steve Marshall
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 3
AG MARSHALL ANNOUNCES 11 STATE DRUG-TRAFFICKING
INDICTMENTS,
LAUNCHES INITIATIVE ON VIOLENT CRIME
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the arrests today of 11
defendants who face multiple state drug-trafficking enterprise charges in a major joint
investigation by state, federal and local law enforcement.
The Alabama Attorney General’s Office, working with a group of federal, state and
local law enforcement agencies conducted an extensive investigation into an alleged
drug-trafficking network in Selma. Evidence was gathered through wiretaps and
surveillance from February 2016 to July 2017, resulting in state and federal indictments.
“Criminals in Selma and the surrounding areas should be on notice: we will not tolerate
this menace to our citizens,” said Attorney General Marshall. “Selmians deserve better
and I hope that you will all be encouraged by what you see here today. The
indictments announced today show how efficiently law enforcement agencies can work
together to fight against crime in a particular area of our state. I would like to thank our
fellow law enforcement agencies for their invaluable assistance and work on these
cases: the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the State Bureau of Investigation, the
Selma Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of
Alabama.
“One of the worst parts of my job as Attorney General is the breadth of my knowledge
and exposure to violent crime occurring throughout our state – much of which is
related to drugs. Selma is far from the only city in our state that is suffering in this
regard. It may surprise you to know that Alabama has the seventh-highest violent
crime rate in the nation and, in one year alone, that rate increased nearly 13 percent.
That is unacceptable. And it’s why our office is committed to making our communities
safer through a new Initiative on Violent Crime. We want to duplicate what you see
here today. The productive cooperation between every level of law enforcement – state,
federal and local – has made this town safer and we want to continue to foster this, not
only in Selma, but around our state.
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us Page 2 of 3
“We have been very heartened by the strong working relationships we’ve already
established with our three new U.S. Attorneys. It is clear to me already that we are of
like minds and have the potential to do a great deal to improve public safety by
working together. Our office in the coming months will also be expanding the training
and other resources we provide to our local partners.”
Attorney General Marshall’s Criminal Trials Division presented evidence to a Dallas
County grand jury resulting in 11 indictments* on January 11 charging the following
individuals with various felonies related to illegal drug transactions under Alabama
law:
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
- Marcus Oneil Pritchett, also known as “Mack,” 26, charged with Violating the Drug
Trafficking Enterprise Act (1 count), Trafficking in Cocaine (1 count), Unlawful
Distribution of Cocaine (21 counts) and Conspiracy to Unlawfully Distribute
Cocaine (9 counts); - David Dashawn Lowe, also known as “Lil Lowe,” 30, charged with Conspiracy to
Violate the Drug Trafficking Enterprise Act (1 count), Trafficking in Cocaine (1
count), and Conspiracy to Unlawfully Distribute Cocaine (1 count); - Keisha Latreece West, 38, charged with Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Trafficking
Enterprise Act (1 count) and Unlawful Distribution of Cocaine (2 counts); - Irvin Montel West, also known as “Trippy,” 22, charged with Conspiracy to Violate
the Drug Trafficking Enterprise Act (1 count) and Unlawful Distribution of Cocaine
(1 count); - Leo Carter, also known as “Bo Peep,” 25, charged with Conspiracy to Violate the
Drug Trafficking Enterprise Act (1 count) and Unlawful Distribution of Cocaine (1
count); - Jamarrious Shaw, also known as “Dukie Duke,” 23, charged with Conspiracy to
Violate the Drug Trafficking Enterprise Act (1 count) and Unlawful Distribution of
Cocaine (1 count); - Jeremiah Brown, also known as “Unc,” 59, charged with Conspiracy to Violate the
Drug Trafficking Enterprise Act (1 count) and Unlawful Distribution of Cocaine (1
count); - Mitchell Williams Jr., also known as “Mini Man,” 20, charged with Conspiracy to
Violate the Drug Trafficking Enterprise Act (1 count) and Unlawful Distribution of
Cocaine (1 count); - Kareen Walker, also known as “Chrome,” 35, charged with Conspiracy to Violate
the Drug Trafficking Enterprise Act (1 count) and Unlawful Distribution of Cocaine
(1 count); Page 3 of 3 - Jamarcus Jermaine Brenson, also known as “Lil Savage,” 21, charged with Unlawful
Distribution of Cocaine (1 count); - Choiis Jamal Kathevian Harris, 22, charged with Unlawful Distribution of Cocaine
(1 count);
A Violation of Alabama’s Anti-Drug Trafficking Enterprise Act (or Conspiracy to
Violate the Act) is a class A felony, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years to
life without parole and a fine of not less than $50,000 or more than $500,000. Trafficking
in Cocaine is a class A felony, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 3 years up to life
in prison and a fine of $50,000. Unlawful Distribution of Cocaine and Conspiracy to
Distribute Cocaine are class B felonies, with a possible sentence between 2 and 20 years
and a fine up to $30,000.
No further information about the investigation or about the defendants’ alleged crimes
other than that stated in the indictment may be released at this time.
In conjunction with this investigation, both Marcus Pritchett and David Lowe also face
federal indictments for various charges. For information about the federal indictments,
contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.
The agencies involved in this operation are the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA),
the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation, the Alabama
Fusion Center, the Selma Police Department, as well as the Attorney General’s Office
and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District. The operation was conducted
under a joint investigation led by the DEA.
Attorney General Marshall commended his Criminal Trials Division, noting in
particular Assistant Attorney General John Kachelman, and Special Agents of his
Investigations Division. He thanked all the agencies involved in this cooperative effort,
including the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office which will assist with the state
prosecutions.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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