HOUSTON COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF ARRESTED FOR DRUG AND GUN CHARGES

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA- Leura G. Canary, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, announced the arrest of Michael Shawn Campbell, age 27, of Dothan. A criminal complaint was filed that charges Campbell with violations of 21 U.S.C. Section 841(a)(1), possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(1), sale of a firearm to a convicted felon.

The complaint and supporting affidavit allege that Campbell, a Deputy Sheriff assigned to Houston County's Narcotic Unit, sold a handgun to a Dothan man he knew to be a convicted felon, and that he gave that man crack cocaine to sell to consumers. Campbell expected the man to share the profits of the drug sale with him. Instead, he reported Campbell to the Dothan Police Department and the FBI, and turned over the handgun and the cocaine to the authorities.

At the initial appearance today, Campbell entered a plea of not guilty. A detention hearing has been scheduled for May 23, 2006, and he will be held in custody until that time.

If convicted, Campbell faces not less than 5 years, nor more than 40 years in prison on the drug charge, as well as a fine of up to $2,000,000. Campbell also faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison on the firearms charge, as well as a fine of up to $250,000.

This case was investigated by the Ashford Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cooke, Jr., will prosecute the case.