NORTH FLORIDA — Five defendants have pleaded guilty in federal court to charges tied to a drug trafficking operation involving cocaine and marijuana, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida announced that Mario Swanston, Shannon Jarbar Clayton, Santana Wyvonne Harris, Shontel Reshard Fedd, and Elizabeth Gray each entered guilty pleas in connection with the unlawful distribution of controlled substances.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Swanston, Clayton, and Harris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana. Fedd and Gray pleaded guilty to the distribution of marijuana.
“Dismantling this drug trafficking network required close collaboration and cooperation between our state and federal law enforcement officers, and I am proud to report their hard work has paid off with these successful prosecutions of the traffickers,” U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin said.
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According to court records, between November 2023 and April 2024, Mr Swanston is said to have conspired with Clayton and Harris to obtain cocaine and marijuana from Georgia for distribution in the Northern District of Florida.
During a traffic stop of Harris, officers reportedly seized 1,497 grams of cocaine. In a separate incident, Swanston is said to have thrown a bag containing 222 grams of cocaine from his vehicle while fleeing from officers before being stopped and arrested.
Investigators also determined that Gray is said to have conspired with Mr Swanston and others to store and distribute marijuana at his direction.
During January 2024, Mr. Fedd reportedly traveled by commercial airline to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport carrying more than five kilograms of marijuana in his luggage, which he and Swanston are said to have planned to distribute.
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Sentencing hearings are scheduled before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker at the federal courthouse in Tallahassee.
Mr Swanston is scheduled for sentencing on April 17, 2026, at 3 p.m. Clayton is scheduled for March 19, 2026, at 1 p.m., Harris on April 2, 2026, at 3 p.m., Mr Fedd on March 30, 2026, at 11 a.m., and Gray on March 20, 2026, at 11 a.m.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, with assistance from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, Gulf County Sheriff’s Office, Panama City Police Department, and Springfield Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo is prosecuting the case.
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