Two Escambia County Fentanyl Dealers Get 5 Years Each in Federal Prison

Two Escambia County residents have been sentenced to five years in federal prison on fentanyl trafficking charges, according to court records.

Thomas Christopher Morton, 47, and Laurie Ann Chapman, 54, each received the same sentence after convictions related to distributing the powerful opioid. Federal prosecutors say the case is part of an ongoing crackdown on fentanyl trafficking throughout the region.

Fentanyl has become one of the most significant drug threats facing law enforcement in Northwest Florida and across the country. The synthetic opioid is often mixed into other drugs without users' knowledge, making it particularly deadly.

The sentencing reflects federal judges' commitment to prosecuting major drug trafficking operations, though both local and federal agencies continue to report rising fentanyl seizures across Escambia County.