A Birmingham man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for gun and drug-related offenses, as announced by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala handed down the sentence to Jarrell Russell, aged 26, following his guilty plea in February. Russell admitted to charges of possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine and fentanyl, carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Court documents reveal that on October 10, 2023, an Adamsville Police Department sergeant attempted to stop Russell's vehicle for speeding. Initially refusing to stop, Russell eventually pulled into a parking lot and fled on foot while carrying a pink backpack and holding a "pin object." Officers apprehended him after a brief chase and recovered the backpack nearby. A search revealed methamphetamine, two digital scales, a Glock 27 Gen Four .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine, and other drug paraphernalia inside the backpack. Additionally, officers found a small bag containing fentanyl in the vehicle's driver-side door. Testing confirmed over 74 grams of methamphetamine and 1.22 grams of fentanyl were involved.
At the time of his arrest, Russell had been previously convicted of first-degree robbery in Jefferson County Circuit Court and was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his status as a convicted felon.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd prosecuted the case.