Pensacola Resident Admits Guilt in Gun and Drug Case

Last updated: July 21, 2026

NewsWK — A local man from Pensacola has pleaded guilty to charges involving firearms and drug possession. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding gun violence and substance abuse within the community.

This plea comes as part of a broader effort by law enforcement to address these issues in Escambia County and surrounding areas. Officials have been working to reduce crime rates and enhance public safety.

Case & Arrest Details

• The Defendant: Marcellous Likely-McWilliams III, 27, of Pensacola.
• The Charges:
  1. Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (marijuana).
  2. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
  3. Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon.
• Incident Overview: On February 4, 2026, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested him while he was wearing a backpack. Inside the bag, officers recovered a Glock 9mm pistol, a 50-round drum magazine loaded with live ammunition, 69.7 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, and packaging materials. During the arrest, he resisted, resulting in a deputy needing medical attention, and later slipped his handcuffs from behind his back to the front while inside the patrol vehicle.
• Potential Penalties: He faces up to 20 years for the drug distribution count, a mandatory minimum of 5 years (up to life) for possessing the firearm during a drug crime, and up to 15 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
• Sentencing: Scheduled for October 14, 2026, before U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers at the federal courthouse in Pensacola.

(Note: Another similar plea was entered around the same time by Travis W. Carroll, 26, who pleaded guilty to federal drug and gun charges following an armed robbery call at the Beacon Food Store where he fled on an electric bicycle).