A 33-year-old Ocala man has been sentenced to over 38 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking network.
Jonathan Jermain Thomas was sentenced this morning by U.S. Middle District of Florida Judge John Antoon II to spend 38 years and 4 months in federal prison.
According to court documents and evidence that was produced at trial, Thomas supplied large amounts of narcotics to a “trap house” located in Summerfield. Once the drugs were delivered to the house, Thomas’s conspirators worked together to prepare, mix, and distribute the various substances to users and smaller-scale suppliers who made daily purchases from the residence.
On April 28, 2022, a federal jury had convicted Thomas of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, over 5 kilograms of cocaine, and more than 1 kilogram of heroin.
In addition, the jury also found Thomas guilty of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possessing with the intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl.
The conspiracy included Thomas as the lead supplier, enforcers who carried firearms to protect the drug assets, and others who helped package and distribute the substances from the house.
On September 9, 2020, Thomas was stopped by law enforcement on Interstate 75 in Gainesville. After smelling the odor of marijuana, law enforcement conducted a search of the vehicle, and nearly a kilogram of fentanyl was discovered within the vehicle’s side paneling.
The fentanyl had been packaged for distribution, and Thomas was heading to Detroit, Michigan to meet with a buyer. His passenger, who was charged in the indictment, pleaded guilty prior to trial.
In addition to Thomas, eight conspirators previously pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their roles in this case:
- Samuel Glover (32, Summerfield) was sentenced to 35 years in prison on August 26, 2022.
- Roddrick Anthony (29, Ocala) was sentenced to 15 years in prison on July 20, 2022.
- Jelyssa Washington (30, Summerfield) was sentenced to 15 years in prison on May 20, 2022.
- Crystal Lovejoy (43, Ocala) was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in prison on May 20, 2022.
- Brent McCray (30, Wildwood) was sentenced to 10 years in prison on May 25, 2022.
- Aaron Bostick (41, Ocala) was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months in prison on July 20, 2022.
- Elaina Buchanan (31, Ocala) was sentenced to 3 years and 5 months in prison on May 20, 2022.
- Danny Lee Campbell (33, Belleview) was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison on June 24, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gainesville Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Tyrie K. Boyer.