Sean P. Costello U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama
A man from Robertsdale, Alabama, has been sentenced to 28 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts: felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of ammunition. Albert Emil Tillman, 46, received his sentence on October 31, 2025. This marks his second federal conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon.
Court documents show that Tillman had prior convictions including robbery in the first degree in 2000 and unlawful possession of a controlled substance in 2009. In 2013, he was convicted for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
While on supervised release from his earlier federal offenses, Tillman's probation officer learned that he was allegedly distributing methamphetamine in Atmore, Alabama. Authorities obtained a search warrant for his motel room where they found digital scales, smoking devices used for consuming methamphetamine, a shotgun, and shotgun ammunition. Tillman was arrested outside the motel room in his truck; officers also found additional rounds of shotgun and rifle ammunition there.
Following this investigation, Tillman was indicted on two new counts related to firearm and ammunition possession by a felon.
United States District Court Judge Kristi Dubose ordered that the sentences run concurrently and imposed three years of supervised release after imprisonment. As part of his supervision conditions, Tillman must undergo testing and treatment for drug or alcohol abuse and is subject to searches upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but he must pay $200 in special assessments. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the illegally possessed firearm and ammunition.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello announced the sentence: "U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement."
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Escambia County (Alabama) Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at fighting illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protecting communities from violent crime by coordinating resources from various federal programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
