Felon Gets 130 Months for Gun Possession

Timothy Shane Postell, 40, of Bessemer, Alabama, was sentenced after pleading guilty in two separate firearm cases.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Crime — General

Felon Gets 130 Months for Gun Possession

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A federal court sentenced Timothy Shane Postell to 130 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Postell pleaded guilty to the charge in two separate and unrelated cases.

Why it matters

The sentence reflects the federal penalty for illegal firearm possession by a convicted felon, particularly when the defendant has multiple prior felony convictions. The case highlights federal prosecution of repeat firearm offenders in the Birmingham area.

Postell pleaded guilty to felon-in-possession charges in two separate cases and was sentenced to 130 months in prison. The filing does not indicate whether an appeal has been filed.

The players

Assistant United States Attorney Darius C. Greene

Greene is a federal prosecutor who handled the case against Postell.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

The ATF is the federal agency that investigates firearms offenses and assisted in the case.

The details

Postell was found in April 2022 on a couch in a Leeds retail store with narcotics and a loaded 9mm pistol. In February 2026, he fled a traffic stop in Hueytown, was tackled by officers, and was found with additional firearms, body armor plates, and methamphetamine.

April 16, 2022: Postell found with a loaded pistol and narcotics in Leeds.
February 7, 2026: Postell flees a traffic stop in Hueytown and is tackled by officers.

Legal Context

The case falls under federal felon-in-possession prosecutions under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), which federal prosecutors in Alabama pursue against repeat offenders with firearms. Postell's four prior felony convictions across Georgia and Alabama place the sentence within that enforcement pattern.

Federal felon-in-possession prosecutions in the Birmingham area remove repeat offenders with illegal firearms from the community for extended periods. Residents concerned about firearm violence can track similar federal cases through the U.S. Attorney's Office in Birmingham.

The takeaway

Federal sentences for felons caught with firearms often reflect both the current offense and a documented pattern of prior convictions. Cases like Postell's show how repeat offenses can lead to substantially longer federal prison terms.