A Birmingham man has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison on gun and drug charges.
U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala sentenced 28-year-old Kendrell Maurice Bell to 200 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Bell pleaded guilty to the charges in July, according to a Friday announcement by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and DEA Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley.
The judge also ordered forfeiture for two firearms and $501,519 in cash, which represented drug proceeds, used in the commission of Bell’s crimes.
According to the plea agreement, Bell on two different occasions in January and February of this year distributed cocaine to a confidential informant.
On Feb. 1, 2022, search warrants were obtained for two locations that Bell used as part of his trafficking operation, including his home, and the warrants were executed the following day.
It was during those raids that officers recovered cocaine, $333,765 in cash, a vacuum sealer, a money counter, a hydraulic brick press, multiple firearms, and approximately 2,800 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Two vehicles at Bell’s residence, a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Dodge Challenger, were discovered to be stolen.
In April 2022, in preparing to arrest Bell on the federal charges from those incidents, agents began conducting surveillance on Bell.
During the surveillance, agents determined that Bell had resumed drug trafficking again, using his primary residence to store drug proceeds, and a residence on 18th Way SW to store narcotics.
Bell was arrested on the federal charges on April 29 at his residence.
At that location, agents recovered oxycodone pills, a digital scale, two firearms, and $164,754 in cash.
Agents recovered multiple firearms, marijuana, another brick press, and cash at the “stash house” located on 18th Way SW. Agents also recovered plastic baggies containing heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine from a hidden compartment inside a vehicle located at the 18th Way SW residence.
DEA investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Garnett prosecuted the case.
“This sentence sends a message to those who deal dangerous drugs in our communities and protect those drugs with firearms,” Escalona.
