Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Secures 15-Year Prison Sentence for Pensacola Armed Drug Trafficker

Pensacola, Florida - Marquis Dy'Monte Bethea, 32, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "Notch another win for public safety in my district thanks to the Homeland Security Task Force, which is dismantling drug trafficking networks and helping to send armed criminals, like this defendant, to federal prison. This successful prosecution and lengthy prison sentence was made possible thanks to the excellent partnership we have with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and the unified commitment of our federal law enforcement partners to eradicating criminal activity from our communities."

Court documents reflect that, in September 2025, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop for an infraction. The defendant was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. After a drug detection K9 positively alerted to the presence of narcotics, law enforcement searched the vehicle. During the search, deputies located a loaded pistol, $10,350 cash, and over 200 grams of methamphetamine.

"This investigation highlights the effectiveness of the collaborative efforts among the involved agencies, but also the real danger posed by individuals who engage in drug trafficking," said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. "The Postal Inspection Service is proud to stand with our partners in identifying and prosecuting individuals who endanger our communities."

The case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida.

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.