Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge yesterday sentenced a Tuscaloosa man to federal prison for possession of marijuana and guns used in furtherance of drug dealing, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.

U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon sentenced MONTRELL LEROBERT WHITE, 20, to 66 months in prison after he pleaded guilty in September 2020 to one count of possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. As a result of his guilty plea, White received a sentence of 6 months on the drug charge and a mandatory minimum of 60 months for the firearms count. On October 9, 2019, Tuscaloosa Police Department officers and Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s deputies, assisted by ATF and the United States Marshal’s Service, went to White’s residence to arrest him on a warrant. Individuals inside the residence permitted officers to come inside to confirm White’s absence. While walking through the apartment, officers smelled marijuana and observed firearms, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia in White’s bedroom. As a result, they obtained a search warrant and seized four pistols, various magazines, ammunition, marijuana, and other evidence of drug distribution activities. Subsequent search warrants revealed White’s communications evidencing drug sales.

The ATF investigated the case along with the Tuscaloosa Police Department and Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Baty prosecuted the case.

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