Florida Man Receives 93 Month Sentence for Conspiring to Distribute Heroin and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crime

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Erskine Simmons, a 31 year old resident of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 33 months for conspiring to distribute heroin followed by 60 months for possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. 

On June 22, 2018, according to a factual statement Simmons signed in connection with his guilty pleas to conspiring to distribute approximately 36.67 grams of heroin and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, on May 1, 2017, deputies of the Mobile County Alabama Sheriff’s Office enlisted the aid of a cooperating defendant (CD) to introduce them to a heroin dealer he/she knew as “G”.  After the CD made the introductions, an undercover deputy purchased approximately 4.95 grams of heroin from “G” (whose actual name is Erskine Simmons) for $1000.  The undercover deputy also gave Simmons an additional $150 for the man who drove Simmons to the buy location.  Conversations between the undercover deputy and Simmons regarding this transaction were captured on audio tape. On May 3, 2017, the undercover deputy contacted Simmons, on his own, and set up a buy of an additional 7.71 grams of heroin.  The undercover deputy paid Simmons $1000 for the heroin and $150 for Simmons’ driver.  The conversations between Simmons and the undercover deputy for this transaction were captured on audio tape.  On May 9, 2017, the undercover deputy purchased an additional 24.01 grams of heroin from Simmons.  The undercover deputy paid Simmons $2000 for the heroin and $200 for the driver.  This time, Simmons was aided by a man who drove Simmons to the buy location knowing what Simmons intended to do once they arrived to meet the undercover deputy.  Simmons agreed to pay the driver to transport Simmons to the buy location.  To complete the sale of the 24.01 grams of heroin to the undercover deputy, Simmons asked a woman riding with them to exit the vehicle, get into the vehicle of the undercover deputy and give the undercover deputy the heroin.  The woman agreed to do so, and did, knowing that the bag Simmons gave her to give to the undercover deputy contain a quantity of heroin.  Conversations related to this transaction were recorded on audio tape.  Deputies arrested Simmons, and his two co-horts immediately after the third transaction and used a drug dog to sniff around the vehicle used by the three to travel to the buy location.  The drug dog alerted to the vehicle and it was searched.  Seized from the vehicle was a small quantity of marijuana and a small quantity of cocaine taken from a purse.  Also seized from the trunk of the vehicle was a camouflage book bag with an Iberia Firearms, .40 caliber pistol hidden inside.  Simmons confessed to the three drug crimes and that he possessed the firearm for his protection.      

Special Agents of the Department of Homeland Security/ICE investigated the case along with deputies of the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and brought it to the U.S. Attorney=s Office for prosecution.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney, Gina S. Vann.