Bessemer Couple Sentenced On Drug Charges

BIRMINGHAM, AL — A Bessemer couple accused of making fake prescription drugs was sentenced Tuesday on federal drug charges. Earnest Lee Coleman, 44, and Tashana Lynn Sims, 38, were sentenced to 78 months in prison and 36 months’ probation, respectively.

Coleman pleaded guilty to possessing punches, dies and plates with the intent to defraud or mislead, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute them, holding for sale and dispensing a counterfeit drug and adulteration of a drug. Sims pleaded guilty to illegally possessing punches, dies and plates. The couple pleaded guilty in February.

"The defendants used dangerous drugs to make counterfeit pills that looked like legitimate prescription drugs, misleading potential buyers and exposing them to unacceptable risks," U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona said. "My office will continue to prosecute those who take advantage of the opioid crisis to prey on vulnerable victims."

Court records show Coleman and Sims ran a counterfeit prescription pill operation out of their home in Bessemer in which Coleman used acetaminophen, fentanyl, heroin, and paverine to make pills similar in appearance to legitimate pharmaceuticals. Coleman sold or traded these pills to obtain other drugs.

According to their plea agreements in April 2018, an international mail package from China was intercepted en route to the home of Coleman and Sims containing two metal dies and a metal mold designed to be used to produce pressed pills.

Authorities searched the Bessemer home, finding controlled substances, multiple firearms and a pill press, powders and materials used to make fake drugs. In October 2019 authorities again searched the home, finding an additional pill press, punch and die, and firearms.