Sean P. Costello U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama
Brandon Demetrius Pettaway has been sentenced to 110 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer on July 25, 2025.
According to court documents, on November 22, 2023, the Mobile Police Department Homicide Unit issued an all-points bulletin for Pettaway, who was wanted for questioning in connection with a recent homicide and had three active arrest warrants. That same day, a member of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force confirmed Pettaway’s presence at a Hardee's restaurant on Highway 90 in Theodore.
Mobile Police officers arrived at the location to arrest Pettaway. As he exited the restaurant and entered his vehicle, police surrounded him with marked vehicles. Pettaway attempted to escape by ramming one of the police cars head-on and then reversing into another vehicle as officers closed in. After being boxed in by patrol vehicles, Pettaway fled on foot.
An officer pursued Pettaway, issuing multiple commands for him to stop and get on the ground. When Pettaway did not comply, the officer used his Taser twice; one probe made contact but did not stop him. Pettaway continued running through a pawn shop parking lot and tried to climb over a barbed wire-topped fence. Officers caught up with him as he clung to the fence and had to use physical force to remove him before detaining him.
A search of Pettaway’s vehicle uncovered a Glock Model 20 handgun with a magazine extender and additional magazine, along with small amounts of marijuana, crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and two digital scales.
Pettaway had previous felony convictions: Felon in Possession of a Firearm (2018), Burglary Third Degree (2011), and Robbery First Degree (2011), all prior to this latest offense.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney George F. May prosecuted it.
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