Yellowhammer Times

A California resident has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for his involvement in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy that involved shipping the drug from California to Alabama. Shanarion Lee, 32, of La Mesa, California, was given a 46-month sentence after pleading guilty earlier this year. He was sentenced on July 31, 2025. In addition to the prison term, Lee will serve five years of supervised release. Federal sentences do not allow for parole.

The investigation began in March 2023 when agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) started looking into a suspected network trafficking fentanyl from California to Alabama. Authorities determined that Lee worked with others, including Hillary Lewis of Lemon Grove, California, and James Walker of Enterprise, Alabama. They were accused of shipping illegal substances to addresses in the Middle District of Alabama.

Throughout 2023 and 2024, federal agents intercepted several packages containing pills that appeared to be legitimate oxycodone tablets. Laboratory analysis confirmed that these pills were counterfeit and contained fentanyl.

Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl on March 26, 2025.

Both Lewis and Walker also pleaded guilty earlier this year for their roles in the operation. Their sentencing hearings are expected later this year.

"This case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Enterprise Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Paul Markovits is prosecuting the case."