A Gulfport resident was convicted by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

54-year-old Mark Anthony Robillia was found guilty following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on December 1, 2022, the DEA and Gulfport Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence in Gulfport where they found Robillia, along with four firearms in plain view.  Officers also found three identification cards belonging to Robillia and a letter addressed to him at that residence.  They also discovered a fifth firearm and approximately 40 grams of methamphetamine, wrapped in 13 separate baggies, hidden in a closet.

Further investigation revealed that Robillia purchased three of the firearms and the remaining two were given to him.  Robillia had been previously convicted and incarcerated for aggravated assault, being a felon in the possession of a firearm, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.  The evidence also indicated that Robillia was distributing methamphetamine from the house where the search warrant was executed.

Robillia is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14, 2024.  He faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison for the drug offense and fifteen years for the gun offense.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gulfport Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Lee Smith prosecuted the case.