Gregory Hickenbottom Sentenced for Meth Trafficking and Firearms Possession

Gregory Deon Hickenbottom has been sentenced to 181 months in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, the U. S. Attorney's Office announced.

The sentence was imposed by United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer on October 8, 2026.

The charges stem from an incident on July 8, 2025, when Hickenbottom was stopped by a Mobile County Sheriff's Office deputy for speeding. During the stop, the deputy noticed an open container of liquor and detected the smell of marijuana emanating from Hickenbottom's vehicle. When asked to exit the vehicle, Hickenbottom fled, leading deputies on a high-speed chase.

During the pursuit, deputies observed a large, clear plastic bag being thrown from the passenger-side window of Hickenbottom's vehicle. The bag, later recovered from a ditch, contained multiple one-ounce bags of methamphetamine, which were packaged for distribution. Testing confirmed the methamphetamine weighed 294 grams and was 99% pure.

A loaded 9mm handgun was also found across the street from an elementary school along Hickenbottom's path of flight. Although deputies did not witness the firearm being discarded, it was recovered in the vicinity where Hickenbottom had been driving at high speed.

Hickenbottom's vehicle was eventually found abandoned at the Scenic Motel on Moffett Road. A citizen reported seeing him enter a Ford Escape driven by a woman. Deputies later located the Ford Escape and found Hickenbottom hiding on the floorboard behind the front seats. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of a small amount of cocaine and digital scales used for weighing drugs.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile County Sheriff's Office. U. S.

Attorney Sean P. Costello praised the law enforcement officers for their diligent work in the investigation, highlighting their commitment to ensuring public safety by recovering the discarded firearm and drugs.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, which aims to combat criminal cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The initiative, established by Executive Order 14159, focuses on eliminating threats to the American people, including those posed by drug trafficking and related crimes.

Assistant U. S. Attorney George F.

May prosecuted the case, emphasizing the importance of interagency collaboration in tackling complex criminal activities. Hickenbottom's sentencing marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to address drug-related offenses and firearm crimes in the region.