TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A federal judge yesterday sentenced a Eutaw man for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
Chief United States District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Antawn Devonte Marshall, 25, of Eutaw, to 105 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition in February 2021. Marshall pleaded guilty to the charge in July. Marshall is prohibited from having a firearm because of prior felony convictions in Tuscaloosa County.
According to the plea agreement, on February 1, 2021, Tuscaloosa Police officers initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Antawn Devonte Marshall. As Marshall was gathering his driver’s license and proof of insurance, officers smelled marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Officers found two boxes of Wolf brand 7.62x39mm ammunition in the center console of the vehicle. Underneath the driver’s seat, officers found a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol loaded with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
According to the plea agreement, on June 5, 2021, Tuscaloosa Police officers attempted to pull over the driver of a silver 2004 Ford Mustang for having no functional tag light. Marshall was the driver. Marshall refused to stop when officers initiated a traffic stop, and a vehicle pursuit followed. As Marshall’s vehicle entered the 2600 block of 21st Street in Tuscaloosa, Marshall lost control and left the roadway, striking a tree. The vehicle bounced back onto the roadway and the officers were unable to avoid striking the vehicle with the front of their unmarked vehicle. As the vehicles were about to collide, the officer noticed a silver item fly from the driver’s window. Officers found a silver 9mm magazine that was loaded with ten rounds of 9mm ammunition outside the car next to the driver’s door. As the officers were ordering Marshall from the vehicle, they noticed a Diamondback 9mm pistol in the driver’s floorboard under Marshall’s feet. The Diamondback 9mm pistol was loaded with nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
ATF investigated the case along with the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples prosecuted the case.