Bradenton man sentenced to prison after undercover drug bust, prosecutors say
.jpg "A Manatee County judge sentenced Marcel Jackson, 36, to 10 years in prison after a jury convicted him of selling crack cocaine to an undercover detective during a 2025 drug sting in Bradenton, court records show.")
A Bradenton man is set to spend a decade in prison after prosecutors said he sold crack cocaine to an undercover detective .
A Manatee County judge sentenced Marcel Jackson, 36, to 10 years in prison after jurors found him guilty of sale or delivery of cocaine, a second-degree felony, according to court records. The sentence includes credit for 95 days already served.
An attorney representing Jackson did not immediately respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment.
The charges stemmed from an undercover operation conducted by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office on July 15. According to an arrest report, an undercover detective approached Jackson as he exited a 7-Eleven at 902 14th St. W. in Bradenton and asked for “hard,” a street term for crack cocaine.
Investigators say Jackson entered the detective’s vehicle and directed them to drive to the 1200 block of 18th St. W., where he briefly exited the car before returning and placing two pieces of crack cocaine on the center armrest. The drugs weighed about 0.3 grams and were sold for $40 , the report says.
Bradenton man sentenced in drug bust
After the sale, Jackson asked if the detective wanted additional drugs and requested a phone number for future purchases, identifying himself by the street name “Black,” according to the arrest report.
The undercover detective said they later confirmed Jackson’s identity by reviewing recent arrest records and visually identifying him while Jackson was in custody at the Manatee County Jail. Laboratory testing later confirmed the substance sold was cocaine, investigators said.
Detectives arrested Jackson in August 2025, court records show.
After the defense raised concerns about Jackson’s competency, the court ordered a mental health evaluation. A judge later ruled him competent to proceed, according to court records.
Court records show Jackson has prior felony drug convictions in Manatee County, including methamphetamine possession in 2025, fentanyl possession in 2024 and synthetic cannabinoid possession in 2023.
