From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — A 19-year-old undocumented individual pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm and drug trafficking on Thursday, March 24.
The plea agreement stated that Calera Police Department conducted a lawful traffic stop on Salas-Jimenez in September 2021, where he admitted to having “some personal use cocaine in his wallet.” After removing Salas-Jimenez from the vehicle and searching his wallet, officers discovered two small baggies containing cocaine.
Officers found a small baggie containing crack cocaine under the driver’s side front seat, a grocery bag containing crack cocaine inside a backpack on the passenger’s side back seat, a large scale, a small digital scale, a roll of vacuum-sealed bags, and a Smith and Wesson revolver.
The maximum penalty for possession with intent to distribute cocaine is 20 years in prison and a fine of no more than $250,000. The maximum penalty for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person is 10 years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000. The minimum penalty for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime is five years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other sentence, and a fine of no more than $10,000,000.
Calera Police Department is assisting in investigating the case with Homeland Security Investigations.