Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

LOS ANGELES – A reputed leader of the South Side Compton Crips criminal street gang has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for crack cocaine-related offenses.

Darnell Deon Brim, 49, of Compton was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson. Brim pleaded guilty on Feb. 11, 2019 to two felonies: conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine.

In his plea agreement, Brim admitted he negotiated the price for crack cocaine and arranged to sell to buyers. Once an order was obtained, he converted or cooked powder cocaine into crack cocaine and sold it to his buyers, court documents state. On Sept. 5, 2013, in a controlled ATF purchase, Brim sold 13.5 ounces of crack cocaine in exchange for $12,000.  Brim then sold another 4.5 ounces of crack cocaine in a controlled purchase on Jan. 9, 2014.

Brim has previous criminal convictions, including being a felon in possession of a firearm, three felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance for sale, and for evading a peace officer.

This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecutors who handled this case were Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Chou and Joseph Axelrad of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Violent and Organized Crimes Section.

ATF recognizes the role narcotics and firearms play in violent crimes and focuses on armed violent offenders and career criminals, narcotics traffickers, violent gang activity, and arms traffickers.

ATF targets, investigates and recommends prosecution of these offenders to reduce the level of violent crime and to enhance public safety. ATF also strives to increase state and local awareness of available federal prosecution under federal statutes.

For more information, follow ATF on Twitter @LosAngelesATF.

###