MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An Abbeville man who fled to Mexico while out on bond has been sentenced to nearly 23 years in federal prison following his conviction on federal drug trafficking and firearm offenses, federal prosecutors announced.
On September 24, 2026, a federal district court judge sentenced 42-year-old Cassime Dion Lingo to 273 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Lingo was convicted by a federal jury in June 2026 following a trial on multiple narcotics and weapons charges.
Search Warrant, Narcotics Seizure, and Flight to Mexico
The case against Lingo stems from an April 2021 search warrant executed at his residence in Abbeville. During the raid, law enforcement officers seized more than 100 grams of methamphetamine, two firearms, cocaine, MDMA tablets, and marijuana.
Lingo was initially arrested on Alabama state charges and released after posting bond. Shortly after his release, Lingo absconded from the jurisdiction and fled the United States to avoid prosecution.
International Fugitive Investigation and Deportation
Following the return of a federal indictment, the United States Marshals Service (USMS) launched a fugitive investigation alongside state and international law enforcement partners. Investigators located Lingo living in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2022.
Mexican authorities apprehended and formally deported Lingo back to the United States in 2025, placing him into federal custody to stand trial for the charges.
Lingo was ultimately convicted of:
- Possession with Intent to Distribute 100 Grams or More of Methamphetamine
- Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
- Receipt of a Firearm While Under Indictment (pertaining to a 2017 felony drug charge in Houston County, Alabama)
Official Statements and Multi-Agency Collaboration
U.S. Attorney Govan emphasized the multi-agency effort required to apprehend fugitives attempting to evade federal prosecution:
“The defendant fled the country to avoid facing the consequences of his criminal conduct, but our law enforcement partners never stopped working to bring him back to the United States. This sentence holds him accountable for possessing significant quantities of methamphetamine and firearms and demonstrates our commitment to pursuing defendants who endanger our communities wherever they may attempt to hide.”
The multi-agency investigation was conducted by the USMS, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Alabama Drug Task Force, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Eufaula Police Department, and Abbeville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John J. Geer III and Christine Levi prosecuted the case.