A Prichard man was sentenced to 37 months in prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

According to court documents, Tony Eugene Howze, 68, was arrested by Mobile Police Department narcotics detectives in March 2021 following the execution of a search warrant at his house on South Wasson Avenue in Prichard.

During that search, detectives recovered, among other things, nearly half a pound of crack cocaine, three handguns (one of which had previously been reported stolen), several loose rounds of ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and more than $6,800 in cash.

Text messages extracted from Howze’s cell phone referenced his nickname, “OG,” and discussed his sales of crack cocaine. Howze admitted that he had previously been convicted of several felony drug and theft offenses in the Mobile County Circuit Court.

Senior United States District Judge William H. Steele ordered Howze to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment.

The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered Howze to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited his interest in the firearms and ammunition recovered from his house.