Birmingham Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Gun and Drug Crimes

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has been sentenced for gun and drug crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Jarrell Russell, 26, to 240 months in prison. In February, Russell pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, a sergeant with the Adamsville Police Department attempted to stop a gray sedan on October 10, 2023, for speeding. The driver—later determined to be Russell—initially refused to stop. Russell then pulled into a parking lot and fled the scene on foot, wearing a pink backpack and carrying a “pin object” in his hand. After a brief chase, Russell was arrested by officers and the pink backpack was located near him. A search of the backpack revealed methamphetamine, two digital scales, a Glock 27 Gen Four .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine, and other drug paraphernalia. A search of Russell’s vehicle revealed a small bag containing a blue substance in the driver’s side door. Subsequent testing confirmed that the methamphetamine recovered from Russell weighed over 74 grams, and the blue substance was 1.22 grams of fentanyl. At the time of his arrest, Russell had previously been convicted of Robbery, First Degree in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, and was a convicted felon prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd prosecuted the case.