First of Two Kidnappers Gets Nearly 20 Years in Tuscaloosa Drug Debt Abduction

A kidnapper who abducted a Tuscaloosa man at gunpoint over someone else's drug debt in 2025 is going to prison for nearly two decades.

Amarion Dewayne Jackson, 20, of Center Point, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping. he has now been sentenced to 235 months in prison - just under 20 years - followed by five years of supervised release.

His 21-year-old co-defendant has also pleaded guilty to the same charges plus an additional charge for receiving ransom money - his sentencing is set for January.

Taken From Tuscaloosa

As the Thread reported when it happened, Jackson and co-defendant Korbyn Markeith Williams, 21, of Alabaster, took the man from his Tuscaloosa apartment in January 2025 after a third party failed to pay them for what investigators called a large delivery of drugs.

The victim was not involved in that deal, but the young men, armed with pistols, abducted him as leverage.

They threatened to kill the man and demanded at least $5,000 for his safe return - federal prosecutors say one of the suspects, Williams, received $1,000 of ransom money digitally from the victim's family and threatened to shoot the man if they weren't paid more.

The family contacted police, who began a multi-agency investigation and operation to save the victim and arrest the kidnappers responsible.

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Caught in Bessemer

As word spread, a Bessemer police officer responded to a call at a store there involving a white car matching the description of the armed suspects. Prosecutors say Jackson and Williams were there to collect more ransom in cash from the victim's family.

The local officer found the vehicle and turned on her emergency lights, both were arrested, and the man they had abducted was recovered unharmed.

Officers found pistols, ammunition, two black ski masks and gloves in the car. As the cases against them progressed, both young men pleaded guilty to the kidnapping this April.

Partners in the Prosecution

The FBI investigated the case, alongside the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force and the Bessemer Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted.

"The U.S. Attorney's Office will not tolerate those who bring violence and fear into our communities. This sentence sends a clear message: those who commit violent crimes will be prosecuted and held accountable for their actions," said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. "We commend our law enforcement partners for their dedication and tireless efforts to ensure that the victim was recovered safely and that this dangerous defendant was brought to justice."

David R. Fitzgibbons, special agent in charge of the FBI's Birmingham field office, said the sentence reflects how federal investigators treat cases like this one.

"Those who plot or carry out acts designed to create chaos or instill fear will be met with an immediate, coordinated, and forceful law enforcement response," Fitzgibbons said. "Our message is clear: if you threaten the safety of our communities, we will act swiftly and decisively."

The second abductor, Korbyn Williams, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and receipt of ransom money. He is scheduled to be sentenced January 13, 2027.

For more exclusive coverage of crime and courts in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.