By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
A Montgomery man previously charged in a fatal hit-and-run case has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to methamphetamine trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm, with federal prosecutors saying the case demonstrates their commitment to holding repeat offenders accountable and protecting public safety.
Robert Marshall Jr., 33, was sentenced July 9 by a United States District Court judge to 140 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Following his prison term, Marshall will serve four years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
According to Marshall’s plea agreement and court records, law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle he was driving in Montgomery on Feb. 6, 2023. During a search of the vehicle, investigators recovered approximately 20 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale commonly associated with drug distribution, and a handgun.
In an interview with the Dale County Chronicle, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama said laboratory testing determined the methamphetamine seized from Marshall was 98% pure, a level consistent with methamphetamine intended for distribution.
Because Marshall had prior felony convictions in Autauga County, federal law prohibited him from possessing a firearm or ammunition. He pleaded guilty to the federal charges on Feb. 25, 2026.
Marshall’s federal case followed a separate criminal case in Autauga County.
In September 2022, Prattville police identified Marshall as the suspect in a fatal hit-and-run that killed 23-year-old Perez Pickett on Gin Shop Hill Road. Investigators alleged Marshall was driving a white 2006 BMW X5 when Pickett was struck before leaving the scene.
Marshall later turned himself in to the Autauga County Metro Jail after authorities publicly identified him as the suspect.
Although the federal drug arrest occurred months after Marshall was charged in the fatal hit-and-run case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the two prosecutions were handled entirely independently.
“The cases were independent,” the office told the Dale County Chronicle.
Federal officials also clarified that Marshall was already incarcerated when a federal writ transferring him into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service was executed on Sept. 2, 2025. The office did not indicate that the status of the state case influenced the federal prosecution.
Asked why the case was prosecuted federally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said its focus is on pursuing cases where federal involvement can have the greatest impact on reducing violent crime and protecting communities.
“Our focus is on pursuing cases where federal involvement can have the greatest impact in reducing violent crime and protecting our communities,” the office said.
“A federal district court judge determines sentences after considering the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. One factor does include criminal history and can significantly impact the guidelines range, as was the case here, the spokesperson added.”
The office said prosecutors recommended a sentence within the applicable federal sentencing guidelines, and the judge ultimately imposed the 140-month prison term.
Federal prosecutors said the combination of drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession is particularly dangerous because it increases the risk of violence.
“Drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession present a particularly dangerous combination because they increase the risk of violence and pose a significant threat to public safety,” the office said. “While every case is evaluated individually based on the facts, the available evidence, and applicable law, cases involving both firearms and drug trafficking often raise substantial public safety concerns and are carefully reviewed for potential federal prosecution.”
Asked what message the sentence should send to others, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said it hopes the punishment serves both as accountability and as a deterrent.
“This sentence demonstrates that individuals who continue to engage in serious criminal activity, including drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession, will be held accountable under federal law,” the office said. “Our office remains committed to working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those whose actions threaten the safety of our communities. We hope cases like this deter others from engaging in similar criminal conduct.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montgomery Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and John J. Geer III prosecuted the case.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the prosecution was part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America initiative, a nationwide enforcement effort targeting violent crime, drug trafficking, transnational criminal organizations, and other offenses through coordinated federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships.
