PENSACOLA — A convicted felon from Pensacola and a Navarre woman have been indicted in federal court on charges of possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute, with the man facing additional firearms counts that could send him to prison for life, U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin announced.

Andre Darrell Perry, 37, of Pensacola, faces one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Loredano Alessandra Bassolino, 38, of Navarre, was indicted on the drug possession count.

Perry appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola. Bassolino appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho at the same courthouse.

If convicted, Perry faces at least 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life, on the drug possession count; at least 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life, on the firearm-in-furtherance count; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the felon-in-possession count. Bassolino faces at least 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Marshals Service investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, “a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. “All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.”

Trial is scheduled for Aug. 17, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in Pensacola before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell II.