Florida felon charged with armed trafficking of fentanyl, possession of machine gun

FLORIDA – A Florida convicted felon has been charged with armed trafficking of fentanyl and possession of a machine gun, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has announced.

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return of an indictment charging Mario Lenard Elbert, 33, of Jacksonville, with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a machine gun.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO), if convicted of the drug offense, Elbert faces a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison. If convicted of the firearms offenses, he faces a minimum mandatory penalty of five years, and up to life, in federal prison for carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and up to 15 years imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, the USAO said.

The indictment also notifies Elbert that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms and ammunition traceable to the offense.

According to the indictment, on May 11, 2022, Elbert possessed fentanyl with the intent to distribute it, during which time he allegedly had a firearm and ammunition in his possession. On September 7, 2022, Elbert was reportedly in possession of a machine gun. At the time of the incident, Elbert was a convicted felon.

As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law, the USAO said.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.