A California man has been sentenced to about four years in federal prison in connection with a scheme to smuggle drugs into Alabama.
Shanarion Lee, 32, of La Mesa, Calif., was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson. Lee pleaded guilty to the charge, Davidson said. In addition to his prison term, the court ordered Lee to serve five years of supervised release following his release from custody. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and Lee’s plea agreement, the investigation began in March 2023 when the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service began investigating a suspected drug-trafficking network transporting fentanyl from California to Alabama. Investigators determined that Lee allegedly conspired with others, including Hillary Lewis, 32, of Lemon Grove, Calif., and 35 year-old James Walker, 35, of Enterprise, to ship illegal controlled substances to various addresses within the Middle District of Alabama.
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Throughout 2023 and 2024, federal agents intercepted multiple packages containing pills designed to look like legitimate oxycodone tablets. Laboratory analysis later confirmed that the pills were counterfeit and contained fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl on March 26.
Earlier this year, both Lewis and Walker entered guilty pleas to federal drug conspiracy charges for their roles in the operation, records show. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for the coming months.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Enterprise Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Paul Markovits is prosecuting the case.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at [email protected]. To support his work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama drug smuggling investigation ends in prison for California man
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