North Alabama Law Enforcement Actions to Combat Fentanyl Distribution Leads to Five Men Charged in Federal Indictments

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Federal grand jury indictments have been unsealed charging five men, in separate and unrelated incidents, for possessing and/or distributing fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley.

Working with state and local law enforcement, last month a federal grand jury indicted five individuals on federal charges related to possession or distribution of fentanyl, including distribution of fentanyl that resulted in death:

• A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Theophylis Rayvon Pride aka OPI, 33, of Huntsville, with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death in July 2021 in Madison County.

• A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges JT Toombs, III, 37, of Alexander City, and Demarcus Leon Hill, 40, of Hoover, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl in August 2021 in Talladega County.

• A six-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Azarious Taron Williams, 25, and Darien Avante Arnold, 22, both of Florence, with conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and a substance containing fentanyl between November 2020 and June 2022 in Lauderdale County. 

DEA investigated the cases along with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Huntsville Police Department, Lauderdale County Drug Task Force, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. Becher, M. Blake Milner, and John M. Hundscheid are prosecuting the cases.

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