A Trussville man has been sentenced to four years in prison for drug trafficking, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor handed down a 48-month sentence to Antonio Sedell Ellis, aged 50. Ellis had pleaded guilty in October 2024 to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
The plea agreement details that on May 9, 2023, a Trussville police officer noticed a black Ford F-450 swerving across the fog line multiple times on Interstate 59. The officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Ellis. During the stop, the officer detected the smell of alcohol from inside the vehicle and requested Ellis to exit it. Although initially compliant, Ellis attempted to leave the scene and ignored further orders from the officer. Additional officers arrived and successfully detained him. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed one kilogram of cocaine, several bags of cocaine, and drug paraphernalia.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI in collaboration with the Trussville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd prosecuted the case.
