KEY POINTS
A Panama City man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession, federal authorities announced Monday. Marlow Level Allen, 46, faces a two-count indictment in the Northern District of Florida for allegedly possessing illegal narcotics with the intent to distribute and for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Allen is scheduled to be formally arraigned on the charges in federal court in Tallahassee on August 14, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick. The indictment was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The Charges
The first count of the indictment alleges that Allen possessed cocaine, cocaine base (commonly known as crack), and marijuana with the intent to distribute the substances. The second count charges him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which is prohibited under federal law.
The case resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
Potential Penalties
If convicted, Allen faces severe penalties. The drug trafficking charge carries a maximum sentence of up to twenty years in federal prison. The charge of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.
Part of a National Initiative
Officials noted that this case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative. The operation aims to coordinate federal resources to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and other transnational criminal organizations, and reduce violent crime in American communities.
The initiative streamlines the efforts of established programs, including the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), to target criminal activity more effectively.
It is important to note that an indictment is an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has violated federal law and does not constitute evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial, where the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
