Attalla man sentenced in federal sex sting

Federal prosecutors say an Attalla man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for traveling to Georgia to have sex with young boys.  33-year-old Joseph Franklin Ellis of Attalla responded to an online ad that was posted in February 2011 by an undercover FBI agent. The posting advertised two boys, ages 5 and 12, who were available for sex.  Prosecutors say Ellis arranged to meet with the agent on May 30, 2011, at a hotel in Ringgold, Ga. Officials say Ellis tried to flee from officers, but was arrested after he crashed his car during a pursuit. Ellis pleaded guilty in February to attempting to have sex with minors. Authorities say he must serve 20 years of supervised release after his sentence.