A Tampa man is facing a slew of federal charges after being indicted for drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession. Joshua Black, 38, has been charged with distributing cocaine and possessing firearms as a convicted felon, along with counts related to an unregistered silencer and a device capable of converting firearms into machineguns as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Law enforcement officers executing a search warrant at a Tampa residence found a cache of drugs and firearms in Black's domain. The operation unveiled a 9 mm "Freedom Ordinance" pistol, a ballistic vest, and a "Zastava Arms" AK-47 pistol, among others; alongside these instruments of death, there was an omnium-gatherum of drug paraphernalia, including glass bowls and plates with crack cocaine, individually packed marijuana bags, and the heavy countenance of ledgers measured by two digital scales; furthermore, a concealment as old as crime itself: $30,000 cash stashed in a hollowed-out book evidencing the secret life of its keeper. The indictment claims that between February and March 2024, Black was actively distributing cocaine from this location, as mentioned by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

In the legal document, it is also mentioned that the items confiscated were not just tools of the narcotics trade but also evidence of a felony past refusing to fade; a convicted felon, Black, was found in possession of an unregistered silencer and a machinegun switch, which converts standard firearms into fully automatic weapons, with a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted on all counts. according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.