United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(MONTGOMERY, Ala.) - A Verbena, Alabama man, James Calvin Talley, Jr., 37, was sentenced to life in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, using a phone to facilitate a drug crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bret Hamilton and U.S. Attorney Louis Franklin. Talley’s conviction for distribution of methamphetamine carried a mandatory life sentence because he had two prior felony drug convictions. There is no parole in the federal system. 

Evidence presented at trial showed that on December 3, 2016, a drug courier delivered more than 100 pounds of marijuana to Talley’s home in Verbena. When the courier arrived at Talley's home, he got out of the car and Talley drove the car alone to another house in Marbury, Alabama. There, Talley backed the car up to the front door of the house and opened the trunk. Law enforcement, who had knowledge of the drug delivery, followed Talley from his home to the house in Marbury. Talley ran into the house when law enforcement arrived but was arrested as he was running out of the backdoor. Inside the house, which belonged to co-defendant Richie Dale Murphy, law enforcement officers found two pistols, more than three pounds of methamphetamine, over $20,000 in cash, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia used for packaging and selling narcotics.

Following the search at Murphy's house, law enforcement searched Talley's home and found two more pistols, along with more than $50,000 in cash, a currency counter, drug ledgers and receipts for wire transfers of large amounts of money. 

Murphy, who previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, testified at trial that he and Talley were in business together, and that Talley used Murphy's home as his stash house for marijuana and methamphetamine. Murphy is facing at least 15 years in prison for his charges. A date for his sentencing has not yet been set.

The case was investigated by the DEA, the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office. The Alabama Attorney General’s Office, Millbrook Police Department, Montgomery Police Department, and Prattville Police Department all assisted with this case. 

Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.