A man facing a second-degree murder charge has accepted a plea deal, avoiding trial.
Mario Diorio, 43, was arrested in November 2022 during a traffic stop after Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies discovered 33.6 grams of fentanyl and 1.9 grams of cocaine in his possession. At the time, Diorio had been under surveillance by the Sheriff’s Office in connection to the fatal overdose of a 32-year-old Brooksville man, who was found dead in his home on December 27, 2020. Investigators determined that the victim had purchased the fentanyl that led to his death from Diorio. Following his arrest, Diorio was booked into the Hernando County Detention Facility, where he remained in custody awaiting trial.
On April 28, 2025, Diorio appeared in Circuit Court, where he accepted a plea agreement rather than going to trial. He pleaded guilty to the charges of second-degree murder, possession or sale of a controlled substance, trafficking in fentanyl, possession of a controlled substance, possession of cannabis over 20 grams, and possession of paraphernalia.
Circuit Judge Daniel Merritt Jr. sentenced Diorio to 20 years with the Florida Department of Corrections, and Diorio must serve the entire 20-year sentence before being eligible for parole.
