A Montgomery man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison following federal drug and gun convictions. Richard Eugene Moore, Jr., aged 37, received the sentence on February 5, 2025. A federal judge also ordered that Moore serve three years of supervised release after his prison term. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
The incident leading to Moore's conviction occurred on September 20, 2023. An Alabama state trooper attempted to stop a vehicle in Montgomery due to a traffic violation. The vehicle had four occupants: a male driver identified as Moore, two female passengers, and a toddler. Moore refused to stop, initiating a pursuit during which he was seen throwing objects out of the window. The chase concluded when Moore ran a stop sign and collided with an unmarked police car. He attempted to flee on foot but was captured shortly thereafter. All occupants of the vehicle sustained minor injuries while the police officer involved suffered more serious injuries and required hospitalization.
During the investigation, authorities recovered items discarded by Moore during the pursuit, including a Glock handgun and a backpack containing several bags of marijuana and a digital scale. Laboratory analysis confirmed the substance as marijuana. Due to prior felony convictions, Moore is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On September 16, 2024, Moore pleaded guilty to charges of possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime. He also pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“On a weekday afternoon, Moore led law enforcement on a high-speed chase through the streets of Montgomery when school traffic was at its peak,” stated Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. “This type of reckless behavior cannot be tolerated. The 15-year sentence ordered by the judge was completely justified due to Moore’s total disregard for the safety of everyone on the road that day, including law enforcement and his passengers.”
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and Montgomery Police Department with Assistant United States Attorney Brandon W. Bates prosecuting.