FREEPORT MAN GETS 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR TRAFFICKING IN FENTANYL

White male with short brown hair wearing an orange jumpsuit in front of a light blue backdrop. Male has brown facial hair.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WALTON COUNTY, FLA— A Freeport man is sentenced to 20 years in prison for trafficking in fentanyl.

Jonathon Hataway Jr., 28, was the target of a narcotics investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office VICE/Narcotics Unit.

A traffic stop was conducted in September 2022 where Hataway Jr. was found in possession of 57 grams of fentanyl and 27 grams of marijuana.

Hataway Jr. was charged with trafficking in fentanyl, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was issued a $50,000 bond and released eight days after his arrest.

In June 2023, Hataway was arrested for failure to appear in court on the charges stemming from the stop. His bond was revoked, and he remained incarcerated until sentencing.

This week, Hataway pleaded to 20 years in prison with a 15-year minimum mandatory sentence and five years concurrent jail time for failing to appear.

“This was great work done by our VICE/Narcotics Investigators, “said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “Our agency will continue to work towards putting those who poison our streets behind bars.”