BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge has sentenced a convicted felon to 15 years in prison for possession of crack cocaine, a highly addictive and destructive substance that plagues our communities.
Terry Roshaun Pruitt, 37, of Birmingham, was sentenced to 180 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine.
According to court documents, Pruitt was caught by Birmingham Police officers during a license and insurance checkpoint in September 2021. A brief chase ensued, and Pruitt crashed his vehicle into a tree before fleeing on foot. He was caught in an alley after tripping over brush. Officers found a grocery bag under his body containing 291 grams of crack cocaine.
This is not Pruitt’s first run-in with the law. In October 2008, he pleaded guilty to trafficking 50 grams or more of cocaine base and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. He was sentenced to 151 months in prison and was on supervised release at the time of his arrest for the new charge.
“Arising from a simple traffic enforcement checkpoint, Pruitt was caught again with dangerous drugs he intended to distribute in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “We are grateful for the coordinated work of our federal and local law enforcement partners in taking this dealer off the street.”
The DEA investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Baty prosecuted the case.
With this sentence, Pruitt will spend 15 years behind bars for his crimes. This is a significant blow to the distribution of crack cocaine in our communities, and we hope it serves as a deterrent to others who would engage in similar activities.
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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