1. Media Center
  2. News & Updates

First use of Agent Billy Clardy III Act leads to major drug trafficking takedown in Alabama

Published on August 13, 2025

The North Alabama Drug Task Force (NADTF), hosted by the Huntsville Police Department (HPD), has successfully dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking organization in the first investigation conducted under Alabama’s newly enacted Agent Billy Clardy III Act.

Details of the operation were announced during a news conference held Wednesday, Aug. 13. HPD Chief Kirk Giles and Mayor Tommy Battle stand alongside local, county and state partners in law enforcement for a photo at the Operation New Heights news conference.

This landmark operation resulted in 23 indictments, the seizure of $4.8 million in illegal drugs, the recovery of $223,385 in U.S. currency, 10 firearms and four vehicles tied to the trafficking network.

The Agent Billy Clardy III Act, sponsored by State Representative Rex Reynolds and signed into law in 2023, provides law enforcement with enhanced investigative tools to disrupt drug trafficking organizations. The law honors fallen HPD STAC Agent Billy Clardy III, who was killed in the line of duty in 2019 while serving a narcotics search warrant.

Those charged in connection with this operation include:

  • Reginald Eugene Scott, 46, of Huntsville – Trafficking Cocaine and Trafficking Marijuana.
  • Fabian Darrell Scott, 48, of Huntsville – Trafficking Cocaine.
  • Devin Emmett Farrell, 37, of Texas – Trafficking Cocaine and Trafficking Marijuana.
  • Kevin Andre Glenn, 48, of Birmingham – Trafficking Cocaine and Trafficking Marijuana.
  • Charnessa Lavern Campbell, 47, of Birmingham – Trafficking Cocaine and Trafficking Marijuana.
  • Bryan Saldana, 27, of California – Trafficking Marijuana.
  • Juan Alfanso Arredondo, 48, of California – Trafficking Marijuana.
  • Ayline Scarlett Largher, 27, of California – Trafficking Marijuana.
  • Gregory Lavar Hampton, 48, of Huntsville – Trafficking Cocaine.
  • Keyon Nelson Burditte, 29, of California – Trafficking Marijuana.
  • Bniam Wolde Abera, 29, of California – Trafficking Marijuana.
  • Femark Dewayne Robinson, 53, of Birmingham – Trafficking Cocaine, Trafficking Fentanyl, Trafficking Opiates and Trafficking MDMA.
  • Demetrius Laron King Jr., 22, of Huntsville – Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime (Possession with Intent).
  • Marcus Antoine Hammonds, 42, of Huntsville – Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime (Possession).
  • Roderick Terrence Dennis, 42, of Huntsville – Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime (Possession with Intent), Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Opiates).
  • Regis Dewon Bell, 41, of Huntsville – Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime (Possession).
  • Twayne Logan, 42, of Huntsville – Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime (Possession), Possession of Marijuana 1st, Possession with Intent to Distribute MDMA, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine), and Attempt to Flee/Elude a Police Officer.
  • Jimmy Lee Chandler, 48, of Huntsville – Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime (Possession with Intent) and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.
  • Bruce Lee Thompson, 47, of Huntsville – Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime (Possession).
  • Jonathan Henry Ford Jr., 66, of Huntsville – Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime (Distribution).
  • Bryan Andrew Tripp, 46, of Huntsville – Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime (Possession).
  • Apryl Jesica Tripp, 48, of Huntsville – Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime (Possession).
  • Tammy Lynn Stump, also known as Tammy Salandy, 53, of Huntsville – Active warrant for Conspiracy to Commit a Controlled Substance Crime (Distribution).

“Thanks to the work of this task force, we’ve dealt a major blow to criminal networks operating in our community,” HPD Chief Kirk Giles said. “This law honors Billy and gives law enforcement the tools to continue his mission.”

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Secretary Hal Taylor commended the coordinated effort, calling it a powerful example of what can be achieved when law enforcement at every level works together with the right tools.

“The Billy Clardy III Act honors the sacrifice of Agent Clardy by ensuring we have the capabilities and legal oversight needed to remove dangerous criminals from our streets.” ALEA Secretary Taylor said. “Through this operation, we not only upheld his legacy but successfully disrupted a large-scale drug trafficking organization that posed a serious threat to Alabama communities.”Some of the illegal drugs, money and weapons seized in Operation New Heights on a table

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall highlighted the precedent set by the case, stating the Agent Billy Clardy III Act is working exactly as intended.

“Agent Clardy gave his life fighting to keep deadly drugs off our streets. This law honors his sacrifice by giving law enforcement the tools they need to take down the worst of the worst,” Attorney General Marshall said. “These are the people who poison our communities and profit from addiction and violence. These arrests send a clear message: Alabama is not a safe place for drug traffickers, and we will hunt you down wherever you operate.”

NADTF is a multi-agency partnership that includes HPD, the Madison Police Department, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and ALEA.

“We will arm our law enforcement agencies with every tool they need to crush the flow of narcotic trafficking into our communities,” MCSO Sheriff Kevin Turner said. “Drug traffickers don’t respect county or city lines, and neither do we. The North Alabama Drug Task Force is the united front of local, state, and federal forces, striking from every angle to drive illicit drugs off our streets and protect our citizens.”

The 23 individuals charged in connection with this investigation are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Share & Print