In a news release, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the sentencing of a convicted Coffee County drug trafficker on June 9.
Bryant Dewayne Pouncy, 47, of Enterprise was sentenced to 360 months – or 30 years – in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, conspiracy to maintain a drug-involved premises, maintaining a drug “stash house” and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin and FBI Special Agent in Charge James Jewell announced that following his 30-year prison sentence Pouncy will be on supervised release for 10 years.
An FBI investigation into a separate drug organization based in Houston County was shifted to the Coffee County organization in July 2016, and through authorized interception of telephone calls and text messages, controlled purchases of methamphetamine, the use of confidential sources of information and “other investigative means,” law enforcement learned that Pouncy was in a leadership role in the conspiracy.
According to the FBI, Pouncy used his co-defendants – some of them family members – to assist in carrying out his drug trafficking business. The evidence gathered indicated that the organization was responsible for obtaining large wholesale amounts of methamphetamine for distribution in South Alabama and in the Florida Panhandle.
According to his indictment, Pouncy’s organization continued to operate until January of 2018.
“It is difficult to know precisely how much methamphetamine the organization was responsible for distributing during its operation,” the statement read. “However, during the sentence hearing, law enforcement testified that at least 12 kilograms could be linked to it from March to October of 2017, with Pouncy being directly responsible for acquiring five kilos.”
According to the release, a number of factors such as the level of drug charges, prior criminal history and Pouncy’s leadership role in the organization called for a significant prison sentence.
“The sentencing judge determined that Pouncy was responsible for directing the business affairs of the organization, giving orders to conspirators and recruiting members to assist with operations, including his sister,” the statement read. “In addition, his sentence was enhanced because of the purity of the methamphetamine that he and his co-defendants were distributing. Lab reports indicate that much of the methamphetamine tested was 97 to 98 percent pure. The more potent form of methamphetamine is often called ‘ice’ and resulted in a substantial enhancement being applied to his sentence.”
Eight other members of Pouncy’s organization were also previously sentenced. Antonio Tyrell Pouncy, 41, of Enterprise was sentenced to 210 months, while Ervin Gene Bradham, 56, of Enterprise was sentenced to 151 months. Santos Rivera-Fernandez, 39, of Atlanta, Ga., was sentenced to 116 months and Lynn Renfroe Donaldson, 53, of Enterprise was given a 27-month sentence.
Rogelio Israel Pimentel, 23, of Rex, Ga., received a 110-month prison sentence, Kimberly Christina Pouncy, 30, of Enterprise received a 30-month sentence, Dennis Reinaldo Peralta, 39, of Lawrenceville, Ga., received a 151-month sentence and Charles Earl Pouncy, 73, of Enterprise was sentenced to three years probation for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
All defendants except Peralta pled guilty to their charges. Penalta was convicted after a trial that concluded on March 28, 2019. One other unnamed member of the organization was charged but his whereabouts are currently unknown.
“Methamphetamine continues to be the number one drug threat in Alabama and is often linked to numerous property crimes, violent crimes and deaths each year,” U.S. Attorney Franklin said. “Due to its purity, the meth – or ‘ice’ – that was being imported in this case, was even more dangerous and addictive. Make no mistake, this organization was bringing in a deadly drug and spreading it through our communities.
“The significant sentences handed down by the court illustrate the serious threat that the drugs represent, and they also show what can be accomplished when federal, state and local law enforcement work together.”
The FBI worked together with the Enterprise Police Department, Dothan Police Department, Ozark Police Department, Houston County Sheriff’s Department, Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency in this investigation. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Marshals Service, Gerogia State Police, Clayton County (Ga.) Sheriff’s Office and Washington County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation, as well. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Curtis Ivy, Bradley Bodifore, Brett Talley and Randolph Neeley prosecuted the cases.
“This case, and its successful result, is a prime example of how the FBI continues to work with its state, local and federal partners to stop this poison from reaching our streets,” FBI Agent Jewell said. “This is proof that all investigative methods will be used to keep our communities safe.”
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