Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has filed charges against two individuals for trafficking fentanyl in North Florida. Ron Alexis Wilson and Johnon Christopher Hughes face charges of trafficking fentanyl and conspiracy to traffic fentanyl following a year-long investigation led by the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation identified them as primary suppliers of the drug in the region.
“Biden’s Border Crisis has had lasting impacts across the country, and the fentanyl that came across the border during his administration is still in our communities. In this case, authorities seized 12,500 fentanyl pills and more than three pounds of fentanyl powder,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Thanks to the work of our law enforcement partners, these drug traffickers are behind bars, and our Statewide Prosecutors stand ready to make sure they cannot threaten Floridians’ lives again.”
Wilson was arrested in Arizona and transported to Florida, while Hughes was taken into custody at his Jacksonville residence.
The Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office collaborated with multiple agencies, including the NorthStar Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security during their investigation.
Florida continues its efforts against the fentanyl crisis through several initiatives such as:
– The Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) Network: Aimed at disrupting addiction cycles by providing comprehensive treatment.
– The State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) program: Provides funding to support law enforcement in combating illegal activities related to fentanyl.
– Enhanced penalties for fentanyl trafficking: Stricter penalties have been implemented for those convicted.
Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Johnna Lessard will be handling this case.
