Cabot Man Sentenced to Over 16 Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Press Release

LITTLE ROCK-George Tavis Marino, II, a multi-convicted felon, will spend 200 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.

Marino was indicted on August 1, 2023, on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty on March 21, 2024. Judge Moody also sentenced Marino to five years supervised release.

An investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) revealed that on May 13, 2022, at approximately 9:30 p.m., an Arkansas State Police trooper initiated a traffic stop at 2500 John Hardin Drive, in Jacksonville, Arkansas, on a silver Mazda for illegally displaying white lights to the rear of the vehicle, near the license plate. As the trooper approached the vehicle, he saw the front passenger, later identified as Marino, reach under his seat. At that point, the Trooper instructed Marino to put his hands where he could see them and not to dig around on the floorboard. Marino then raised his hands through the open passenger window.

The trooper advised the driver of the reason for the stop and asked if either of the men was on probation or parole, and both men stated "no." The trooper asked Marino to exit the vehicle and saw him reach under his seat again. Concerned that he was reaching for a firearm, the trooper reached inside to prevent Marino from moving and told him not to "do anything stupid." Marino denied having a firearm when asked by the trooper. After repeatedly being instructed to exit the vehicle and not reach for anything, Marino eventually exited through the open passenger window.

Marino repeatedly said, "Don't do this, man," tried to cover the trooper's microphone, and continued to resist. The trooper pulled out his taser and Marino fled after throwing a can of Sprite at the trooper. During a search of Marino's vehicle, the trooper discovered under the passenger seat a Hi-Point, model C9, 9mm pistol, loaded with five rounds. Marino was eventually located in a Walmart parking lot in Jacksonville and taken into custody.

Marino is classified as an armed career criminal offender due to his violent criminal history, which includes 21 prior felony convictions for crimes such as first degree terroristic threatening, second degree battery, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony fleeing, aggravated assault, possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, and two prior felon in possession of a firearm convictions. Therefore, the maximum penalty Marino faced was not less than 15 years and not more than life in prison, no more than five years supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O'Leary.

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Additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar

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Updated November 15, 2024