January 14, 2026

Fairhope Man Sentenced to Federal Prison on Drug and Gun Charges

By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News

January 14, 2026

FAIRHOPE, Ala. A Fairhope man previously arrested for drug trafficking has been sentenced to federal prison for more than eleven years.

U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Christopher Lynn Barnwell to serve nine years for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl, and for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama announced in a news release.

Law enforcement working with informants, were able to secure a search warrant for Barnwell’ s residence in Fairhope on January 22, 2024, where they confiscated 188.6 grams of 96% pure meth and 18.46 grams of fentanyl from a safe, court documents revealed. Agents also found a Ruger 9mm pistol in an air vent.

The court documents also stated that Barnwell took agents to a shed, where they found drug paraphernalia and a substance called mannitol, which is commonly used to cut drug.

Agents also seized Barnwell’s cellphone and found texts related to drug deals, as well as photos and videos of meth, cash and drug paraphernalia, the records showed.

Barnwell will also have to serve a consecutive sentence of 30 months for violating his supervised release according to court documents. He will then spend 10 years on supervised release upon leaving prison.

The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.