FROM STAFF REPORTS

CHELSEA– Anthony Levy Ward, 35, of Chelsea was indicted last month by a federal grand jury as part of an illegal drug ring. Ward, along with eight other people from Birmingham and Phoenix, Ariz., was indicted for trafficking heroin, fentanyl and cocaine into Jefferson County.

“All of these drugs are dangerous and highly addictive,” said U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance. “DEA and its law enforcement partners have saved lives by taking these people off of the streets and bringing them forward for prosecution.”

Special findings by the grand jury regarding the amount of heroin and cocaine attributable to various defendants were included in the indictment.

Ward, his father Anthony Alexander and his aunt, Betty Alexander, along with two other suspects, were charged with conspiring to traffic over 1,000 grams of heroin. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life.

Because Ward has been previously convicted for drug trafficking, he could face a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life if he is convicted of the current charges against him.

Ward and Anthony Alexander were also charged with attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on Sept. 30. Betty Alexander was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin two days prior.

Ward also faces two counts of gun possession. One count was for using an FN 5.7×28 mm pistol in relation to drug trafficking. The other was for possession of a pistol as a convicted felon on Oct. 13.

In August 2011, Ward was convicted by the Jefferson County Circuit for trafficking illegal drugs. Ward was also previously convicted in federal court in the Northern District of Alabama for distributing cocaine.

The current indictment supersedes an indictment in Sept. that charged Ward and five other suspects with one of count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl from April to August 2016.

The case was investigated by the DEA, Birmingham and Hoover police departments and the U.S. Marshals Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Northern Alabama is prosecuting the case.

Other suspects who were indicted include Ferlando Carmise Mims, 19, Onandas Carmece Beard, 19 and Corey Darnelle Haynes, 36, of Birmingham and Jose Agustin Gutierrez, 31, Jesus Ubaldo Montoya, 22 and Marahai Ardizo Enriquez, 24, of Phoenix, Ariz.