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Escambia Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty To Federal Charges
August 20, 2026
A Homeland Security task force investigation led to a guilty plena by an Escambia County armed drug trafficker, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Marquis Dy’Monte Bethea 32, of Pensacola, pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
In September 2025, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop for an infraction. Bethea was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. After a drug detection K-9 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, according to court documents.
Bethea faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on the drug distribution count, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, for the firearm count, consecutive to the sentence imposed on the first count.
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