Five-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced In Federal Court

MOBILE, AL –A resident of Robertsdale, Alabama, was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment on October 31, 2025, for his second federal conviction for felon in possession of a firearm.  Albert Emil Tillman, 46, pleaded guilty to his two new federal charges, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Felon in Possession of Ammunition in July of 2025.  According to court documents, Tillman had been previously convicted in state court for Robbery First Degree in 2000 and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance in 2009.  Most recently, he was convicted for Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm in federal court in 2013.  

Court documents show that Tillman was on supervised release from his prior federal convictions when his probation officer received information that Tillman was distributing methamphetamine in the Atmore, Alabama, area. Officers obtained a search warrant for Tillman’s motel room in Atmore and incriminating evidence was discovered in the room, including digital scales and smoking devices used to consume methamphetamine.  The officers also discovered a shotgun and shotgun ammunition in the room.  Tillman was arrested outside the room in his truck, where numerous additional rounds of shotgun and rifle ammunition were seized. Tillman was indicted for the two new counts, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Felon in Possession of Ammunition, as a result of this investigation.

United States District Court Judge Kristi Dubose imposed a 28-month sentence in Tillman’s cases and ordered that the sentences run concurrently.  The judge further ordered that Tillman serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.  As conditions of Tillman’s supervision, he will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse and will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the Judge ordered that Tillman pay $200 in special assessments. Judge Dubose also ordered the forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition that Tillman illegally possessed.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County (Alabama) Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).