OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — A Laurel Hill man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for armed drug trafficking involving methamphetamine, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
Seth Dewayne Talbot, 45, was sentenced by District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden said the case reflects the strength of multi-agency cooperation.
“We are proud of our ongoing successful partnerships to target drug traffickers and remove them from our county,” Sheriff Aden said. “Whether they’re operating in populated areas or rural communities, our combined efforts and persistence continue to pay off.”
According to court records, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) began investigating Talbot in October 2024 after receiving information that he was selling illegal narcotics.
In November 2024, a search warrant was executed at his residence. Investigators reportedly found more than 180 grams of methamphetamine, two loaded firearms, a box of ammunition, and U.S. currency in his bedroom.
Talbot has multiple prior felony convictions.
The conviction and sentence followed a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the OCSO, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Etherton prosecuted the case.
This case was part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and violent crime.
U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin said he commended state and federal law enforcement partners for their work.
“I commend our state and federal law enforcement partners for their outstanding work in investigating and arresting this armed drug trafficker,” Mr Heekin said.
“Methamphetamine is a deadly drug that is plaguing our communities, and my office will continue to support the excellent work of our law enforcement partners by aggressively prosecuting the criminals who flood our streets with these dangerous drugs.”
