Tallahassee Serial Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearms Crimes

Tallahassee, Florida - Marcello Hinojosa, 53, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and 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: "Protecting our communities from the predations of violent, serial offenders like this defendant is one of the highest duties my office has, and I am proud of the excellent work by my prosecutors to hold him accountable. We will continue to aggressively prosecute every federal offense that occurs in this district until our citizens get the safe, crime-free streets that they deserve."

Court documents reflect that in May 2026, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by the defendant in Tallahassee, Florida. During the traffic stop, it was discovered that the defendant did not have a valid driver's license and that he was wanted for violations of federal supervised release. The defendant had been convicted of federal drug trafficking charges in 2018 and served a term of imprisonment, after which he was placed on supervised release but had subsequently violated the conditions of his supervision. During the search of the defendant's vehicle, investigators located several ounces of methamphetamine packaged for resale, a loaded handgun, and other items indicative of drug distribution. The defendant has numerous prior felony convictions including fleeing officers, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, grand theft, felony battery, aggravated stalking, possession of methamphetamine, possession of Lorazepam, felony domestic battery, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2027, at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. Hinojosa faces up to life imprisonment.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.

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.