Trussville Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Guns, Drugs and Escape

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Trussville man was sentenced today on gun, drug, and escape charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French, and U.S. Marshal Martin Keely.

U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon sentenced Timothy Allen Phillips, 40, to 264 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and escape from the custody of the Attorney General. 

“Repeat offenders like this defendant, who deal drugs and illegally possess firearms, are the focus of our enforcement efforts to reduce violent crime in our communities.” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “We are grateful for the excellent work of the Irondale and Argo Police Departments, the ATF, and the U. S. Marshal’s Service  to make the cases that would put this defendant in prison for 22 years.”

“ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence partnerships once again have proven to be effective in reducing violent crime,” SAC Mickey French said.

According to the plea agreement, on September 13, 2019, Irondale Police Department executed a search warrant on Center Street in Trussville, Alabama, where Phillips resided.   Inside the house officers found methamphetamine and a digital scale.  There was also a small barn located at the property where officers found marijuana and drug paraphernalia, including items used to smoke marijuana.  Phillips told officers that he had weapons hidden in the eve on the front porch.  Officers recovered a Springfield .45 caliber handgun and a Cobra .22 caliber derringer handgun from the overhang on the front porch. 

On February 19, 2020, a confidential informant (CI) made a controlled drug purchase of methamphetamine from Phillips’ residence.  The CI had been to the residence on more than one occasion. On February 21, 2020, a search was executed at Phillip’s residence, based on the CI’s purchase on February 19^th. Officers recovered a Remington 12-gauge short-barreled shotgun from a storage shed.  Officers also recovered multiple firearms and rounds of ammunition, and approximately 225 grams, and 84 blotter units of LSD from inside the residence.

On February 27, 2020,  a police officer made a traffic stop on the driver of a grey Chevy Tahoe for a switched tag.  The officer identified the driver as Phillips.  Phillips had a suspended driver’s license and an outstanding warrant with ATF.  Officers recovered marijuana, a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver, and a Ruger .380 caliber pistol from the vehicle. Both firearms were loaded with 6 rounds each. 

On February 24, 2020, ATF agents arrested Phillips after he was charged for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  On that same day, Phillips was released on bond.  On March 9, 2020, Phillips’ bond was revoked, and he was remanded into the custody of the Attorney General. Phillips was booked into the Talladega County Jail, as a federal inmate. 

On April 30, 2020, Phillips escaped from the Talladega County Jail. Local law enforcement along with the United States Marshals Service began a search for Phillips. Later that afternoon, federal law enforcement officers located Phillips at a residence in Ohatchee, Alabama.  Phillips was taken into custody without incident.

The ATF and United States Marshals Service investigated the case along with the Irondale Police Department and Argo Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney John Camp prosecuted the case.