FLORIDA – Two Walton County men have been sentenced to prison for drug trafficking charges.
Kenneth Ingram, 62, of DeFuniak Springs, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Kadeem Ingram, 32, of DeFuniak Springs, was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentencings.
The sentences were the result of both men being convicted following a jury trial on August 17, 2022, for the offenses of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Kadeem Ingram was also convicted of the distribution of cocaine or cocaine base on two occasions in July 2019, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida (USAO).
“This prosecution demonstrates the collaborative efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, who work tirelessly to remove addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said Coody.
“We are grateful for their dedicated public service and remain committed in our efforts to investigate and vigorously prosecute criminals bringing drugs into North Florida.”
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Evidence introduced at trial revealed that the Ingrams conspired with others to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. In 2019, the Ingrams reportedly took monthly trips to South Florida to procure large quantities of cocaine.
The cocaine purchased, which was, in part, converted to cocaine base, was then reportedly distributed by Kadeem Ingram and a co-conspirator. An investigation culminated in law enforcement seizing approximately 1.5 kilograms of cocaine from a vehicle the Ingrams possessed on July 13, 2019, said the USAO.
“Let these sentences be a warning to those who are participating in the attempted destruction of our communities by selling this poison,” said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson.
“Our agency continues our effort not only to make drug arrests but to ensure these dangerous dealers are prosecuted and stay behind bars.”
“The success of this investigation is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the DEA in collaboration with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne Reuter.
“DEA remains committed to these important partnerships to keep these dangerous drugs out of our North Florida communities and hold those who bring this poison into our neighborhoods accountable for their actions.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Office of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Lynn Haven Police Department, the Panama City Police Department, and the Panama City Beach Police Department. First Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Spaven prosecuted the case.
