Pensacola, Florida – Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This serial felon’s days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he’ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.”
Court records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida. As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon. Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: “This case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.” The case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.