A Birmingham man described as the leader of a major drug trafficking organization and one of his “lieutenants” have been indicted on federal drug and gun charges.

Lumon Andre “Loom” Layton, 49, and Cedric Lamar “Ced” Nelson, 36, of Midfield, were indicted in the Northern District of Alabama this week, according to a Friday announcement by U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples.

The 10-count indictment charges Layton and Nelson with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, and distribution of fentanyl between March 2022 and January 2023.

Layton is also charged with five counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, two counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Layton was convicted of manslaughter on May 2, 2000, in Talladega County, as well as several drug crimes in Jefferson County prior to 2000.

According to the indictment, on January 6, 2023, Jefferson County Sherriff deputies executed search warrants at five different locations following a 10-month investigation.

The locations – mostly apartments – stretched from east Jefferson County to Fairfield to Fultondale.

Investigators seized a total of 19.5 pounds of cocaine, 5.74 pounds of heroin, 22 pounds of methamphetamine, 30 ounces of marijuana and 150 grams of a fentanyl/ heroin mixture.

The deputies also seized more than $1 million, in addition to five guns.

Layton was arrested then on state charges.

The FBI and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.   Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Cross is prosecuting the case.

The penalty for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute or distribution of a controlled substance is a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years to life in prison.

The maximum penalty for possession with intent to distribute or distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine is life in prison.

The penalty for using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime is a minimum mandatory term of five years in prison up to life to run consecutive to any other count. The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 15 years in prison.