Pinson Man Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy

MOBILE, AL - A Pinson, Alabama man was sentenced on April 17, 2024, to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.

According to court documents, Darnell Watkins, 61, plead guilty to the charge in October of 2022. Watkins was one of several conspirators charged in Mobile when an investigation conducted by the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations revealed that cocaine and heroin supplied by James Harding, Jr., in Birmingham, was being distributed in Daphne and Fairhope by other members of the organization, including Darrell Williams. Harding and Williams were convicted by a federal jury in Mobile in October of 2022. Harding was sentenced to 480 months imprisonment, and Williams was sentenced to 324 months imprisonment. Court documents reflect that Watkins assisted the conspirators in south Alabama in connecting with Harding and arranging for the delivery and transportation of the drugs and the payment of the drug money.

United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed the 10-year sentence in Watkins' case and ordered that he be placed on supervision by the United States Probation Office for 5 years following his release from custody. No fine was imposed, but Judge Moorer ordered that Watkins pay $100 in special assessments.

The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, the Safe Streets Task Force and the FBI. It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney's Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.