UPDATE: Macon felon sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for fentanyl distribution
Antonio Jenord Whitehead receives 18-year sentence for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
UPDATE (6/6/24): Antonio Jenord Whitehead, a 37-year-old multiple-time convicted felon from Macon, has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, according to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
The sentencing, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on June 5, includes 216 months in prison, with 168 months to be served consecutively to the revocation sentences of 48 months in two other cases. Whitehead will also face five years of supervised release following his prison term.
Whitehead pleaded guilty to the charges on April 3.
“Those who push fentanyl into Middle Georgia risk lives and make our communities more dangerous places to live and work,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said. “This case reflects that the penalties for such conduct will be steep, especially when the perpetrators are repeat felons.”
“Despite previous convictions, Whitehead continued to plague our communities with fentanyl, fueling the deadliest drug epidemic our country has ever seen,” Robert Gibbs, Senior Supervisor Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office, said. “This conviction demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and remove the leaders of these drug trafficking operations from our streets.”
On February 20, 2023, Whitehead was stopped by a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Georgia Highway 401 for multiple violations. The officer detected the smell of drugs, and the driver was found to have a suspended license. As a search of the vehicle began, Whitehead tried to flee by moving to the driver’s seat. An officer shot out the rear tires to prevent a high-speed chase, leading to Whitehead’s arrest. Deputies found a suitcase in the vehicle containing plastic bags filled with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, along with additional drugs in Whitehead’s possession. In total, he had 207 grams of fentanyl, 554 grams of methamphetamine and 101 grams of cocaine. At the time, Whitehead was on supervised release for two prior federal drug distribution convictions in the Southern District of West Virginia.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and FBI conducted the investigation. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes prosecuted the case for the government.
UPDATE (4/3/24): A Macon man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He now faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.
His sentencing and revocation hearing is scheduled for June 5, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
Whitehead is a convicted felon with two prior federal drug distribution convictions.
“Fentanyl kills, pure and simple,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said. “Those who choose to traffic this deadly drug into our communities will be held accountable. Our office will do everything we can to support our law enforcement partners’ efforts to rid our communities of fentanyl and make them safer for everyone.”
According to court documents, Whitehead was under supervised release for two prior federal drug distribution convictions when the car he was traveling in was stopped for multiple violations on Georgia Highway 401 by a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputy on February 20, 2023. After the deputy said Whitehead and a passenger provided inconsistent statements, a probable search began, and Whitehead attempted to flee by taking control of the vehicle. That prompted a deputy to disable the vehicle by shooting out its rear tires.
A subsequent vehicle inspection revealed a “significant quantity of narcotics, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine,” the release said. Whitehead was taken into custody with additional drugs in his possession. He claimed sole responsibility.
“Despite previous convictions, Whitehead continued to plague our communities with fentanyl, fueling the deadliest drug epidemic our country has ever seen,” Senior Supervisor Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Macon Office, Robert Gibbs, said. “This conviction demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and remove the leaders of these drug trafficking operations from our streets.”
ORIGINAL STORY (2/21/23):
FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A man and woman are in the Monroe County Jail after a traffic stop leads to a drug bust.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says on Monday, a deputy stopped a Nissan Altima on I-75 north near mile marker 187 for several traffic violations. The deputy says as he approached the vehicle, he could smell marijuana.
The deputy asked the driver, 23-year-old Shatoya Frazier, and her passenger 36-year-old Antonio Whitehead, to get out of the vehicle.
(Photo courtesy of Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page)
Once at the back of the vehicle, deputies say Whitehead was asked about the marijuana smell. He then ran to the driver’s seat to try to get away.
After searching the vehicle, the deputy found 588 grams of Methamphetamine, 317 grams of Fentanyl and 28 grams of Marijuana.
Frazier is charged with Driving with a Suspended License and other traffic violations. Whitehead is charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine, Trafficking Fentanyl and Obstruction of an Officer. He’s currently on Federal Probation for Trafficking Narcotics.
