Two Accused Drug Dealers Convicted In Federal Court

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Two accused drug dealers were convicted in federal court Wednesday on multiple charges that include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.

The jury returned its guilty verdict against Isiah Thomas, 36, of Bessemer and Tavara Gissendanner, 36, of Newville after three days of testimony before Chief U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler.

“This verdict serves as notice to every individual involved in illegal narcotics distribution,” U.S. Attorney Prima Escalona said. “My office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who deal this deadly poison in our communities.”

Evidence at trial proved that in early 2019 Gissendanner directed a network of associates in trafficking quantities of narcotics – including heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl – and money across the state.

Court records show Gissendanner orchestrated the drug trafficking while in Alabama Department of Corrections custody, in part through the use of contraband cellular phones he obtained in prison. One of his associates, Thomas, was arrested in April 2019 when he received a shipment of two kilograms of heroin and a drug press orchestrated by Gissendanner.

Investigators intercepted the shipment before it was delivered to Thomas and substituted the actual heroin with mock narcotics in similar packaging. The intercepted heroin was worth an estimated $150,000. Additional seizures in the case included quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin-fentanyl mixtures, and cash.

Thomas and Gissendanner could face life in prison.