Tallahassee, Florida – Marcello Hinojosa, 53, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking offense. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Hinojosa appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. Trial is scheduled for September 28, 2026, in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
If convicted, Hinojosa faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute count; up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count; and no less than 5 years consecutive to any other sentence on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking offense count. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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.