By By Arthur McLean
Four men and one woman from Atmore face federal drug charges in Escambia County after the release of an indictment from federal officials Friday.
Shelton "Chubby" McKenzie, Clarence "Jeff" Matthews, Damien K. Mosley, Lashaun "Pea Hull" Robinson and Sharon D. McKenzie, aka Sharon Hensell face from two to four counts each, with each charge carrying a minimum sentence of five years in prison, a minimum of 20 years for money laundering.
Shelton McKenzie was indicted on four counts of drug and money laundering charges. The indictments include the possession with intent to distribute more than a pound of cocaine, more than 1,100 lbs. of marijuana, over a pound of methamphetamines.
Matthews was indicted on the money laundering and marijuana charges. Mosley was indicted on the marijuana, methamphetamine and money laundering charges.
Robinson was indicted on the marijuana and money laundering charges, and Sharon McKenzie was indicted on the marijuana and money laundering charges.
The charges allege the drug distribution took place over a five-year period from 1999 to 2004.
If a guilty verdict is reached in a trial, the marijuana and cocaine charges each carry a sentence of 5 to 40 years in prison, and up to $2 million in fines. The methamphetamine charge carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison and fines of up to $4 million if convicted. The money laundering charge carries a sentence of 20 years in jail with a fine of up to $250,000 upon conviction.
The indictments were handed down by a federal grand jury and released Friday by the United States Attorney's office in Mobile.
Mosley and Robinson have already entered guilty pleas. Trials for Matthews and Sharon McKenzie will begin Monday.
Shelton McKenzie's trial is set for September.
As a result of the investigation and subsequent indictments, two more people have been arrested on drug charges. Natalie Parker and Fenetrias Lewis have been charged by way of complaint.
The indictments come as the result of an investigation combining Escambia County's 21st Justdicial Circuit Drug Task Force, the FBI and IRS.
The 21st Circuit Court Drug Task Force is comprised of the following law enforcement agencies: Atmore Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff's Department, East Brewton Police Department, Brewton Police Department, Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County District Attorney's Office and the Escambia County Commission.
The task force receives 75 percent of its funding from a grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Affairs Division of the United States Department of Justice which is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The remainder of the funding is provided by the law enforcement agencies of Escambia County.