Tampa Felon Faces 30+ Charges After Gun, Drug Bust

A convicted felon faces more than 30 charges after a domestic violence call in Tampa led Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office detectives to discover nine firearms and a significant quantity of narcotics. The incident occurred Sept. 18, 2026, when deputies responded to a report of shots fired.

Deputies arrived at the 6220 North block of 44th Street in Tampa at 4:31 a.m. and made contact with Marcello Hardrick, 45. Investigators learned Hardrick battered a victim and then fired multiple shots from a pistol in the front yard of the residence. No one or property was struck by the gunfire.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence. During the search, they recovered nine firearms, along with methamphetamine, cocaine, and prescription medication. Hardrick, who has eleven prior felony convictions, was initially charged with simple battery (domestic violence), felon in possession of a firearm/ammunition, discharge of a firearm in public or on residential property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and use of a firearm while intoxicated.

Following the search, detectives added 33 more charges against Hardrick. These include seven counts of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of felon in possession of ammunition, one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, armed trafficking in cocaine (28 to 200 grams), armed trafficking in amphetamine (200 grams or more), twelve counts of armed possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell or deliver (Schedule II), two counts of armed possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell or deliver (Schedule I), possession of a drug without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, owning, leasing, or renting for the purpose of trafficking, selling, or manufacturing a controlled substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking, selling, or manufacturing a controlled substance, and two counts of criminal mischief ($1,000 or more).

Sheriff Chad Chronister emphasized the danger Hardrick posed to the community. "A man with eleven prior felony convictions had no business possessing a single firearm, let alone nine, along with a stockpile of narcotics," Chronister said. He commended the detectives for their work, stating they "did outstanding work turning a domestic violence call into the dismantling of a threat to our community." The Sheriff added that the office will continue to pursue violent repeat offenders and remove illegal guns and drugs from the streets.