Pensacola felon pleads guilty to federal drug & gun crimes (DOJ)

Pensacola, Florida - Marcellous Likely-McWilliams III, 27, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving marijuana; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "I am proud of the many successful prosecutions that my office has delivered under Operation Take Back America, as the Department of Justice devotes its full might toward removing violent, drug trafficking offenders, like this defendant, from our communities. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve safe, drug-free streets, and that is exactly what my office will deliver with continued aggressive prosecutions to back up the excellent work of our state and federal law enforcement partners on the front lines in the fight against crime."

Court documents reflect that on February 4, 2026, the defendant, a convicted felon legally prohibited from possessing firearms, was arrested wearing a backpack that contained a Glock 9-millimeter pistol, an additional 50-round drum magazine holding live ammunition, 69.7 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, and various identification documents. The defendant initially resisted arrest, requiring one deputy to seek medical treatment. After his initial arrest, the defendant was placed in a patrol vehicle where he covertly slipped his handcuffs to the front of his body. He later kicked a deputy, and attempted to push the deputy away from the patrol car door as he tried to flee from the patrol vehicle before being transported to jail.

The defendant faces a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute count; a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years' imprisonment and up to life imprisonment on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking count; and up to 15 years' imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Escambia County Sheriff's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brooke A. Lindsay.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 14, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.

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 FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.