Phenix City Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison Following Federal Gun and Drug Convictions

            Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that Dedrick Farold Smith, 40, from Phenix City, Alabama, received a sentence of 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal gun and drug charges.

            According to Smith’s plea agreement and other court records, on May 25, 2021, the Dothan Police Department received information that Smith, who had outstanding arrest warrants, was staying at a hotel in town and had with him methamphetamine and a firearm. When officers attempted to apprehend Smith, he tried to flee by ramming a law enforcement vehicle and leading them on a short high-speed chase. Eventually, Smith crashed his vehicle and officers took him into custody. During the arrest, investigators located a black bag containing plastic baggies of methamphetamine and observed an empty holster on Smith’s left side. On the driver's side of Smith’s vehicle, law enforcement found two handguns. One of the guns had been reported stolen. The methamphetamine was 89 percent pure. Smith has prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

            On November 29, 2022, Smith pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Smith’s sentencing occurred on May 25, 2023.          

            The Dothan Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney John J. Geer, III prosecuted.