BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has been sentenced for possession of illegal drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
U.S. District Judge Annmarie C. Axon sentenced Deverick Dewayne Croom, 35, to 63 months in prison. In April, Croom pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
“Keeping violent offenders and illegal drugs out of our communities remains a top priority,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “I am grateful to our federal, state and local law enforcement partners for their continued commitment to holding dangerous offenders accountable and keeping the citizens of the Northern District of Alabama safe.”
“As in this case, domestic violence involving firearms is particularly concerning and often links to further criminal activity that affects the victims and our communities as a whole,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James VanVliet. “Today’s sentencing underscores the importance of holding individuals accountable who recklessly engage in criminal acts of violence, illegally possess firearms, and distribute narcotics.”
According to the court documents, on August 12, 2020, an officer with the Birmingham Police Department responded to a domestic violence call. The victim reported that Croom had assaulted and strangled her, shot at her, and took her phone and money. Law enforcement officers went to a Birmingham hotel to locate Croom. After knocking on the hotel room door and receiving no response, officers entered and found the room unoccupied. While in the room, they observed suspected marijuana and pills containing methamphetamine on the dresser and a loaded Windham Weaponry AR-style rifle in the closet. A short time later, Croom returned to the hotel and officers encountered him in the lobby. Croom was detained in connection with the domestic violence complaint and the suspected narcotics. It was subsequently discovered that Croom had active arrest warrants issued by the City of Birmingham. When Croom was detained, he had a hotel room key in his hand and the victim’s phone in his pocket. The officer returned to the room and seized 10 bags of marijuana (each containing approximately 3.5 grams of the drug), more than 200 pills containing methamphetamine, and the AR-style rifle. Croom was then arrested for possession of a controlled substance and domestic violence by strangulation or suffocation.
ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Northern District of Alabama — U.S. Department of Justice press release.