Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

GULFPORT, Miss. — A Monroeville, Alabama man was sentenced to 397 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. 

Curtis Navelle Harrison, 46, was sentenced on February 21, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.  

According to court documents, on July 23, 2021, as part of an ongoing investigation, law enforcement officers conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Louis Booker, Jr. at a residence in Moss Point.  Three days later, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the residence. During the execution of the search warrant, Booker, Harrison, another adult male and a minor child fled from the residence. When the individuals were apprehended, officers located a $10.00 bill from the prior buy on Harrison’s person. Approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine, firearms and fentanyl were also recovered from the residence. Subsequent investigation resulted in the discovery of text messages and social media messages between Harrison and Booker, which demonstrated that they were involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. 

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.

On June 14, 2023, a jury in federal court found Harrison guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. 

In imposing sentence, the court noted Harrison’s prior criminal history. Specifically, the court pointed to the fact that at the time of his commission of this offense, Harrison was out on parole from a life sentence in Alabama. According to documents submitted to the court, Harrison was sentenced to life in Alabama based on his prior convictions for attempted murder and first-degree armed robbery of an undercover police officer.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Lauren Dick prosecuted the case with support from Assistant U.S. Attorney Gaines Cleveland.

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