ICYMI: Significant Federal Prosecutions in the Northern District of Alabama During the 2025 Government Shutdown

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – During the recent federal government shutdown, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama continued its mission to protect public safety and hold criminals accountable, prosecuting cases involving immigration violations, violent crime, drug trafficking, and other federal offenses. 

“During the shutdown, the mission of my office remained the same: to pursue justice for the citizens of the Northern District of Alabama,” said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona. “Our prosecutors’ efforts never stopped. Every day, they were in the office, in the courtroom, and working with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice and keep our communities safe.”

The following cases highlight just a portion of the important work carried out during the shutdown:

• Juan Francisco Castaneda, also known as “Pariente,” 44, pleaded guilty to all counts charged in the superseding indictment, including conspiring to traffic fentanyl, conspiring to commit money laundering, and distribution of fentanyl.
• Juan Martin Sanchez-Suarez, 24, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for production of child pornography.
• Wayne Carnell Brown, 74, of Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Michael Kilgore, 40, of Centre, Alabama, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine.
• Raymone Eugene Tabb, 33, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was sentenced to 22 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
• Joel Wesley Dillard, 47, of Morris, Alabama, was sentenced to 189 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release for possession of child pornography.
• Addison Lee Cook, also known as “Adihsun,” 34, of Nashville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 360 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release for production of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor.
• Elmer David Hernandez-Garcia, 29, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
• Jamarion Carmaine Walker, 23, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for illegal possession of a machine gun. Walker advertised and sold machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), commonly referred to as “Glock switches.” Walker marketed himself as the “Switch God.”
• Gary Forrest Edwards, 65, of Maylene, Alabama, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for tax evasion and interfering with the administration of federal tax laws. Edwards, a chiropractor, pleaded guilty during his trial.
• Daymon Maurice Collins, 52, of Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced to 160 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.
• Jacob Edward Daugherty, 34, of Steele, Alabama, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

These cases were investigated by federal law enforcement partners from ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS-CI and Homeland Security Investigations.