Chilton County Father and Son Sentenced to Prison on Unrelated Federal Charges

            Montgomery, Alabama – Within the past two weeks, a Chilton County father and son were each sentenced to prison for committing federal crimes, announced United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr., Special Agent in Charge Marcus S. Watson with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chilton County Sheriff John Shearon.

            On Wednesday September 4, 2019, Latrail Marcellus Jackson, Sr., 42, was sentenced to 210 months in prison after being found guilty by a federal jury for possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute. During his trial, the jury heard evidence that the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office suspected Jackson Sr. was selling drugs at a residence in south Chilton County near Marbury. In February of 2017, the investigation led them to obtain a search warrant for the house where they found large quantities of illegal drugs. Jackson Sr. received a substantial sentence in this case due to his criminal history. During sentencing, the judge determined that he qualified as a career offender under the federal guidelines and this significantly increased his punishment range.

            On August 26, 2019, Latrail Marcellus Jackson, Jr., 25, was sentenced to 78 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Court records indicate that in March 2018, Clanton police officers encountered Jackson Jr. while responding to a disturbance call. While there, police discovered that he had an outstanding failure to appear warrant. The Chilton County Sheriff’s Office took him into custody and found him to be in possession of methamphetamine and a handgun. Possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison and runs consecutive to any other sentence. Jackson Jr. received 18 months for the drug charge.

            After serving his 17.5-year prison sentence, Jackson Sr. will be subject to five years of supervised release. Whereas, Jackson Jr. will be subject to a three-year period of supervised release following his 6.5-year sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.       

            “Unfortunately, violence and the illegal drug trade are often closely linked together,” stated U.S. Attorney Franklin. “My office will use all tools available to address the drug and violent crime problems in our communities. I applaud the work of all agencies involved in bringing this father and son to justice.”

            ATF Special Agent in Charge, Marcus Watson, remarked, “Protecting the public by the removal of the criminal element that commits acts of violence with a firearm was the result of the combined efforts by ATF and our partners.”

            “My office works hard to get drug dealers off the streets and out of our communities,” said Chilton County Sheriff John Shearon. “We appreciate the partnerships we have with federal law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

            The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office investigated these cases, with assistance from the Clanton Police Department and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon Bates and Thomas Govan prosecuted the cases.