Convicted Felon From Macon Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking, Faces Up to 40 Years in Prison

On April 3, Antonio Whitehead, 36, of Macon, Georgia, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl before Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell. Whitehead, who has two prior federal drug distribution convictions, could face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine. The sentencing and revocation hearing are scheduled for June 5, with Whitehead not eligible for parole.

U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary emphasized, “Fentanyl kills, pure and simple. Those who choose to traffic this deadly drug into our communities will be held accountable.” Robert Gibbs, Senior Supervisor Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Despite previous convictions, Whitehead continued to plague our communities with fentanyl, fueling the deadliest drug epidemic our country has ever seen.”

According to court documents, Whitehead was under supervised release for his prior convictions when the car he was traveling in was stopped by a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputy for multiple violations on Georgia Highway 401 on Feb. 20, 2023. Upon detecting the odor of drugs and discovering the driver had a suspended license, officers initiated a search. Whitehead, a passenger in the vehicle, attempted to flee by moving to the driver’s seat, prompting an officer to shoot out the rear tires to prevent a high-speed chase. Subsequent searches revealed a suitcase containing 207 grams of fentanyl, 554 grams of methamphetamine, and 101 grams of cocaine, along with additional drugs in Whitehead’s possession.

The case was investigated jointly by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, demonstrating collaborative efforts to combat drug trafficking operations.