United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Four Talladega men have been held accountable in federal court for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. 

The four men were initially indicted together, but two previously pleaded guilty.  The remaining two were set for trial last week before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala. The jury found Tramarcus Fomby also known as “Slacc,” 31, guilty after five days of testimony. Fomby was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. 

Flemings Chatman also known as “Boo Bang,” 44, was set for trial with Fomby but pleaded guilty at the beginning of trial to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

In July, Ladarious Quashawn Brown also known as “Eastside Jack,” 33, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after his earlier guilty plea to conspiracy to possess and distribute more than five kilograms of methamphetamine.

And co-defendant Robert Houston Jr., 57, pleaded guilty to his part in the same conspiracy earlier this month.

“The defendants have repeatedly engaged in criminal conduct with disregard for the law, and they posed a serious danger to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “Together, with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners we will continue to pursue those who profit from drug trafficking and work to keep our communities safe.” 

“The jury’s verdict convicting Tramarcus Fomby puts an exclamation point on the tremendous work of the DEA and their state and local partners, marking a complete dismantlement of this notoriously violent drug trafficking ring,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Dimler.  “The Talladega area will be safer with Chatman, Fomby, and Brown behind bars.”

“Relentless collaboration is the key to dismantling drug trafficking organizations targeting our communities,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott. “By pairing the reach of our local law enforcement partners with DEA and ATF resources, we ensured every member of this operation was brought to justice.” 

“This investigation involved premeditated acts to obtain and distribute dangerous amounts of illegal narcotics with blatant disregard for public safety,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James J. VanVliet. “The ATF and our valued law enforcement partners remain committed to dismantling these trafficking networks, removing illegal firearms and drugs from our communities, and ensuring that individuals who pose a threat to public safety are held accountable.”

In January 2024, the DEA, along with local and state law enforcement agencies, began investigating a Talladega-area drug-trafficking organization led by Chatman.  

In late September 2024, DEA learned that Brown, along with co-defendants Fomby and Chatman, pooled money to buy approximately ten kilograms of methamphetamine for which Chatman and Fomby gave Brown $5,000.  Brown later contacted Chatman and advised that he had to get rid of the methamphetamine during a police pursuit. 

Later that month, Fomby, Chatman, and Brown again pooled their money and planned another methamphetamine buy to recoup their losses from the earlier transaction.  Brown, Chatman, and codefendant Robert Houston Jr. drove in two cars from Talladega, Alabama, to Atlanta, Georgia, to purchase approximately six kilograms of methamphetamine to be split amongst Chatman, Brown, and Fomby.  Chatman made the purchase and placed the drugs in the car Houston had driven for the trip.  On the return trip to Alabama, Chatman and Brown rode together in a car separate from Houston, and the trio traveled in tandem back to Talladega.  Law enforcement officers with the Talladega Drug Task Force and DEA special agents waited along Highway 21 in Talladega to spot them on that return journey. That evening, local law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Houston, searched his car, and seized nearly 4,600 grams of pure methamphetamine.

DEA Birmingham Division and ATF Birmingham Division investigated the case along with the Talladega County Drug Task Force, 7th Judicial Circuit Major Crimes Unit, Talladega Police Department, Talladega County Sheriff’s Department, and the Oxford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory R. Dimler and Scott Woodard prosecuted the case.