FirstAlerts

Four Escambia County residents sentenced in fentanyl distribution case

Sentences ranged from 28 months to five years in federal prison, according to conflicting reports.

4 reports on this incident · first at Aug 31, 2026, 1:17 a.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Aug 31, 2026, 12:05 a.m. ETUpdated Sep 3, 2026, 12:52 a.m. ET
Four Escambia County residents have been in a fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution case, according to northescambia.com. The defendants are Thomas Christopher Morton, 47, Laurie Ann Chapman, 54, Adrian Dion Pettaway Jr., 25, and Gindy Nicole Lacey, 49. The sentences were announced between August 31 and September 3, 2026, according to conflicting reports from northescambia.com. One report states that Adrian Dion Pettaway Jr. was to 28 months in federal prison and Gindy Nicole Lacey was to 60 months, while another report states that the sentence was . The reports do not specify which defendants received which sentences. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, according to northescambia.com. The charges included distribution of fentanyl and distribution of methamphetamine, tramadol, and fentanyl.

Earlier reports

  1. Aug 31, 2026, 1:36 a.m. ET

    Two Escambia County residents sentenced in fentanyl trafficking case

    Two Escambia County residents were sentenced to five years in federal prison in a fentanyl trafficking case, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, as reported by northescambia.com.

    Thomas Christopher Morton, 47, and Laurie Ann Chapman, 54, were sentenced on August 31, 2026, according to the report. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

  2. Aug 31, 2026, 1:30 a.m. ET

    Two Escambia County residents sentenced in fentanyl trafficking case

    Thomas Christopher Morton, 47, and Laurie Ann Chapman, 54, were sentenced to five years in federal prison in a fentanyl trafficking case, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, as reported by northescambia.com.

    The sentencing was announced on August 31, 2026. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

  3. Aug 31, 2026, 1:17 a.m. ETFirst report

    Two Escambia County residents sentenced in fentanyl trafficking case

    Two Escambia County residents were sentenced to five years in federal prison in connection with a fentanyl trafficking case, according to a report from northescambia.com published on August 31, 2026.

    Thomas Christopher Morton, 47, and Laurie Ann Chapman, 54, were sentenced, the report said. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

    The report did not specify the charges or the date of the offenses. The sentencing was announced on August 31, 2026.

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Revision history

  1. Version 23 Sept 2026, 04:52current

    Updated to include all four defendants and conflicting sentence reports.

  2. Version 131 Aug 2026, 05:30current

    First published.

  3. Version 131 Aug 2026, 05:17current

    First published.

  4. Version 131 Aug 2026, 05:36current

    First published.

  5. Version 131 Aug 2026, 05:22

    First published.

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