Madison County Man Indicted on Gun, Drug-Trafficking Charges

BIRMINGHAM – A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted a New Hope man on drug-trafficking and firearms charges, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bret Hamilton.

A three-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges ANDREW DONALD PASEUR, 38, with possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in Madison County on May 12. The indictment also charges Paseur with possessing a firearm, a Smith & Wesson .45-caliber pistol, in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the indictment, Paseur has two previous felony drug-possession convictions in Madison County Circuit Court – unlawful possession of marijuana, first degree, in 2006, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance in 2012.

“Drugs, guns and violent crime nearly always come as a package,” Town said. “We are committed to working with federal, state and local law enforcement to find the criminals who threaten our communities the most and charge them with the most serious, readily provable offense.”

The prison penalty for possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, after a previous felony drug conviction, is a minimum of 20 years. The prison penalty for using a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime is a minimum of five years, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed for the crime. Possessing a gun as a convicted felon carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

DEA investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Hodge is prosecuting.

An indictment carries only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

###