Federal jury convicts Smiths Station man of methamphetamine distribution

OPELIKA, Ala. (WTVM) - A federal jury has convicted a Lee County man on a drug trafficking charge following a trial in Opelika, Alabama.VerdictOn Oct. 29, 2026, Kenneth Byron Halsey, 50, of Smiths Station, Alabama, was found guilty of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.Evidence presented at trialEvidence presented at trial established that Halsey sold 50 grams or more of methamphetamine to two individuals at his residence in Smiths Station. Jurors were shown a video recording that depicted the drug transaction.SentencingA sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, Halsey faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.A federal district judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.Investigation and prosecutionThe Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office inve