Two known Mobile area gang members were sentenced in U.S. District Court last week after pleading guilty to threatening a Mobile police officer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Monday.

Jamarcus Manuel, 21, was sentenced to a year in federal prison, while 22-year-old Justin Gorman was sentenced to time served after each pleaded guilty to interstate communication of threats to injure.

Both will be subject to three years of supervised release, according to prosecutors.

In April 2023, police conducted a traffic stop which was occupied by three men known to be members of the “Purple” or “Purple Babies” Neighborhood Based Gang (NBG), according to federal court documents.

During the stop, one of the men in the vehicle began using his phone to stream the interaction with police live to his Instagram account — an account which the Mobile Gang Intelligence Unit already knew belonged to the gang member.

The video included images of one officer’s face and, at one point, the officer was asked what his name was, with the officer responding “Mike.”

Although police discovered two firearms in the vehicle during the traffic stop, it was determined no offenses had occurred and the three individuals were released.

The Instagram live video continued, however, with an Instagram user — identified by the Mobile Gang Intelligence Unit as Justin Gorman — commented “Imm smoke mike when I catch em.” A federal agent’s affidavit stated that “smoke” was slang for “shoot or kill.”

Shortly after Gorman’s comment, an Instagram user identified by Mobile Gang Intelligence as Manuel, posted comments “We got some for Mike” and “Justin wya we finna find mike.” Again, the federal agent’s affidavit indicated Manuel’s comments were a direct threat against the Mobile police officer.

“Using social media, the internet, or any other communication channel to make threats is unacceptable,” said Sean P. Costello, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “This is especially true when threats are made to those merely doing their jobs, like the men and women in law enforcement.

“We take any threat seriously, and will investigate and prosecute the criminals who violate federal laws by doing so.”