A Montgomery man has been sentenced to 24 years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug conspiracy. Vanshun Traywick, aged 46, was convicted of charges related to a scheme that brought cocaine from Texas to Alabama. The sentencing was announced by Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson on February 27, 2025.
The investigation into the drug-trafficking operation began in 2020. It revealed that Traywick ordered kilogram quantities of cocaine from Michael Golden, a co-conspirator based in Houston, Texas. Rufus Flanagan, another co-conspirator also from Houston, delivered the drugs to Montgomery. On October 20, 2020, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Flanagan's semi-truck and discovered approximately one kilogram of cocaine inside.
Further investigations showed that Traywick purchased two ounces of cocaine from Deneco Nettles on October 13, 2020. Nettles is another co-conspirator from Montgomery. Traywick was found guilty on two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine after a trial concluded on September 25, 2024.
Golden, Flanagan, and Nettles all pleaded guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges last year. Nettles received an 18-month sentence on June 18, 2024. Flanagan was sentenced to 27 months in December of the same year. Golden's sentencing is set for April 8, 2025.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation aimed at disrupting high-level criminal networks through collaboration among various law enforcement agencies.
The investigation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and Montgomery Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea Wilson, Mark E. Andreu, and Justin L. Jones handled the prosecution.