A Mobile man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug trafficking and firearms possession while being a federal fugitive. Tesean R. James, 30, was previously convicted of a marijuana trafficking conspiracy in 2019. After his release from federal prison in September 2021, he evaded court-ordered supervision for over two years.
In July 2023, law enforcement attempted to arrest James on a fugitive warrant. He led agents on a high-speed chase through Mobile before abandoning his vehicle and escaping on foot. Inside the abandoned vehicle, agents found two pistols and seven pounds of marijuana. In December 2023, James was captured after another brief foot chase. A search of his residence uncovered more than 34 pounds of marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, $34,000 in drug proceeds, and two guns.
James admitted to authorities that he knew about his active warrants and had been coordinating large shipments of marijuana using encrypted apps since his release from prison. Evidence from his cell phones showed involvement in selling various narcotics.
Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced James to a five-year supervised release term following his imprisonment with mental health treatment required during this period. The court ordered him to pay $300 in special assessments but did not impose additional fines.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello announced the sentencing decision with contributions from multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; and the Mobile Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce violent crime by enhancing community trust and focusing on strategic enforcement priorities.