BIRMINGHAM – A federal judge today sentenced a Birmingham man to life in prison for distributing more than 50 grams of crack cocaine after having twice previously been convicted of felony drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance.

U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler imposed the sentence on MICHAEL DONNELL SUMERLIN, 55.

A federal jury convicted SUMERLIN following a January trial of selling 126 grams of crack cocaine to a confidential informant working with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in October 2008.

Federal law mandated a life sentence on a felony drug conviction involving more than 50 grams of cocaine base when the defendant had at least two prior felony drug convictions. Court records show SUMERLIN was convicted of felony marijuana possession in both Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties in 2006, and felony possession of marijuana in Jefferson County in 2008.

The DEA investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Felton prosecuted it.

 

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