Armed Bay Minette Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

MOBILE, AL – A Bay Minette, Alabama, man was sentenced today to 168 months in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine ice and possession of a firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, Von Clay Bennett, Jr., 25, was identified during an investigation in which investigators used confidential informants to make controlled purchases of methamphetamine ice from him.  The informants were equipped with audio and video devices to record the transactions with Bennett, which occurred in both Mobile and Baldwin Counties.  A search warrant was obtained for Bennett’s residence in Mobile and investigators discovered and seized additional methamphetamine ice and five pistols.  Bennett pled guilty to the conspiracy charge and the gun charge in October of 2020.

United States District Court Judge Jeffery Beaverstock imposed the 168-month sentence, consisting of 108 months on the drug charge and 60 months on the gun charge, which will run consecutively.  The judge further ordered that Bennett would also serve five years on supervised release following his imprisonment.  As conditions of his supervision, Bennett will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Bennett pay $200 in special assessments.  All the firearms used during the commission of the offenses were ordered forfeited to the United States.

The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.