Alabama Man Sentenced to 29 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Being Shipped Through the Mail

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - On November 20, 2024, a federal judge ordered that 35-year-old Jason Steven McWilliams, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, receive a sentence of 348 months in prison for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute the illegal drug. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, in March of 2023, McWilliams was incarcerated at a jail in Montgomery County on unrelated state charges. While there, McWilliams contacted Shykearia Darneisha Cooper, 26, also from Montgomery, to arrange for a package he was expecting from another individual containing fentanyl pills to be delivered to Cooper's residence. On March 15, 2023, a parcel service delivered the package to Cooper's house, and she accepted delivery. Cooper was also charged for her role in the conspiracy. During her October 17, 2023, plea hearing, Cooper specifically admitted that she knew the package contained fentanyl pills and that McWilliams intended to distribute them.

Based on McWilliams' criminal history, the sentencing judge determined that he qualified as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. This ruling increased the guidelines range for McWilliams and resulted in a significant sentence.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson prosecuted.