Three-Time Federal Defendant Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison

U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Isaiah Ke’Juan Merritt, 27, of Talladega, Alabama, to 120 months in prison. In February, Merritt pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

“My office will pursue repeat federal offenders as often as it takes to keep them out of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our dedicated law enforcement partners and prosecutors, we have removed this defendant once again from our community.”

“HSI remains steadfast in our mission to protect our communities from repeat offenders who fuel the cycle of drug abuse and violence,” said Ellen Johnson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama. “This case highlights the impact of strong partnerships among law enforcement partners to continue to pursue those who threaten the safety of our neighborhoods and ensure they are brought to justice.”

According to the plea agreement, on April 16, 2024, deputies with United States Marshals Service (USMS) were conducting surveillance in Talladega, Alabama, as part of their efforts to locate Merritt. Merritt had been convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in November 2018 and had been sentenced to 65 months in prison followed by 120 months of supervised release. While serving the last portion of his custodial sentence at a halfway house, Merritt escaped. For this conduct, he was indicted and convicted of escaping from custody.  He was sentenced in November 2022, to 16 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Because Merritt failed to report and was unresponsive to his probation officer, the Court issued warrants for his arrest, which led to the USMS looking for him on April 16, 2024. 

USMS deputies and Task Force Officers observed Merritt getting into the passenger side of a vehicle at the Brentwood Apartment complex located in Talladega, Alabama.  Deputies followed the car to A&E Auto Sales in Talladega.  Once the vehicle came to a stop, a Deputy U.S. Marshal approached the vehicle to detain Merritt.  As Merritt exited the vehicle the Deputy Marshal observed two plastic bags containing methamphetamine on the passenger side floorboard beneath where Merritt had been sitting.  

Homeland Security Investigations and the Talladega Drug Task Force investigated the case, along with the United States Marshals Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd prosecuted the case.