Birmingham Men Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Distribution of Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two Birmingham men pleaded guilty to the charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Distribution of Methamphetamine, and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Heroin announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

Darius Emale Craig, Jr., 23, pleaded guilty on February 24, 2022, to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, and two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine.  His sentencing is scheduled for June 15, 2022, before Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala.  Horace Dantai Burgess, Jr., 25, pleaded guilty on March 15, 2022, to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine involving his brother Darius Emale Craig, Jr., two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, and one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Heroin.  His sentencing is scheduled for July 20, 2022, before Judge Haikala.

The maximum penalty for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine is 40 years in prison and a fine of not more than $5,000,000.

Both men are linked to the Hard to Kill gang.  Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the Hard to Kill gang, better known as H2K. This gang operates in the Birmingham, Alabama area and is known to be involved in acts of violence, illegal drug distribution, and illegal firearm possession.

These cases are a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. 

FBI investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristy Peoples and Darius Greene prosecuted the cases.