Ocala, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Marrin Maurice Baker (49, Williston) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Baker faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Baker had been indicted on November 9, 2021.
According to court documents, Baker is a felon with prior state convictions for battery on a law enforcement officer and sale of cocaine. On or about August 25, 2021, officers from the Ocala Police Department attempted to stop a truck being driven by Baker, but he refused to pull over. Once he finally stopped, officers searched the truck and recovered a loaded 9mm firearm by the driver’s seat and approximately 121 grams of marijuana on the floorboard. Baker admitted these items belonged to him and added that he had the firearm because of shootings in the local area and that he didn’t want “anyone to try [him].” As a convicted felon, Baker is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.