From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — A Birmingham man was sentenced Wednesday, August 3, on drug charges.
Burgess was sentenced to 70 months of imprisonment followed by 60 months of supervised release.
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“Violent street gangs often fund their illegal activities by trafficking illegal drugs,” U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona said. “By focusing drug enforcement efforts on gang-related dealers, our law enforcement partners can reduce both the violence and the drugs that plague our communities. We are grateful for the efforts of the Birmingham Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and FBI in taking another dealer off the street.”
The USDOJ states that Burgess sold methamphetamine to law enforcement on multiple occasions. In addition, in August 2021, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Burgess. Burgess refused to stop, and a high-speed chase ensued. During the chase, Burgess threw a bag containing a significant amount of heroin out of the window. Burgess is linked to the Hard 2 Kill (H2K) gang.
Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the H2K gang. This gang operates in the Birmingham area and is known to be involved in acts of violence, illegal drug distribution, and illegal firearm possession.
“As a result of this case, the streets of Birmingham are a little safer, and yesterday’s sentence should send a message that violent actors will be held accountable for their criminal acts. The FBI is committed to the fight against violent crime, and we will continue to work side by side with our state, local, and federal partners to bring criminals like Burgess to justice,” FBI SAC Johnnie Sharp, Jr. said.
FBI investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.