PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Telly J. Hill, 28, of Pensacola, was sentenced to life-plus-ten years of imprisonment this morning on charges relating to a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in Pensacola, announced United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh, Northern District of Florida.

The federal indictment alleged Hill and others were involved in the distribution of large amounts cocaine and “crack” cocaine, as well as in the possession of firearms to further the drug conspiracy. During the trial earlier this summer, jurors heard evidence of multiple cocaine seizures from Hill. The jury also heard testimony regarding death threats to a member of the Pensacola community who was aiding law enforcement in its investigation. These threats, as well as a drive-by shooting of this person’s residence, were linked to Hill through his cellular telephone records.

Chief United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers sentenced Hill today to life on the drug conspiracy conviction and imposed a ten-year consecutive sentence for discharging a firearm in furtherance of the conspiracy. The severity of Hill’s sentence was based in part on his prior state convictions for felony drug and violent crime offenses. Hill’s co-defendants, Erick Smith and Ismael Rodrigues, are set to be sentenced in early 2012.

U.S. Attorney Marsh praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as the Pensacola Police Department and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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