Federal Supervisee Sentenced On New Drug And Gun Charges

MOBILE, AL – A Monroeville, Alabama, man was sentenced in federal court today for his ongoing drug dealing and illegal possession of a firearm while on supervision for a previous federal conviction. James Edward Hill, Jr., 50, was arrested in February of 2022 after Monroe County law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on his residence in a drug investigation. Hill was on federal supervision as part of a previously imposed federal sentence. Hill’s first federal conviction came in 2011, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. While he was on federal supervision after he was released from prison, Hill was again involved in the drug business. He was charged in federal court by information with attempt to manufacture crack cocaine and felon in possession of a firearm. Hill pled guilty to the new charges in July of 2023.  

According to court documents, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Hill’s residence in Monroeville and discovered cocaine powder and various materials and equipment used to manufacture cocaine powder into crack cocaine. Hill admitted to the officers that he used the baking soda they found in his house for that purpose. Investigators also recovered a .38 caliber firearm in the kitchen where the drugs were. Because Hill was actively being supervised for a federal felony drug conviction, he was aware of his status as a convicted felon and the prohibition against his possession of a firearm.  

United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose imposed a sentence of 57 months in Hill’s case, to be followed by five years on supervised release after his release from custody. As conditions of next period of supervision following his second federal conviction, Hill will 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 the defendant pay $200 in special assessments. The judge ordered the forfeiture of the firearm, a .380 caliber revolver, seized during the investigation. 
     
The case was investigated by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.