Lima man sentenced for trafficking fentanyl in Allen County

LIMA — A Lima man charged with trafficking fentanyl in Allen County more than two years ago was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison.

Shaton Whitfield, 36, entered into an agreement with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to two of eight felony charges contained in an indictment handed down by a grand jury in March. He entered guilty pleas to the possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a first-degree felony, and trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, a second-degree felony.

Charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, having weapons under disability and three additional counts of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, and a firearm specification, were dismissed by prosecutors as part of the agreement.

Prosecutors alleged that Whitfield on Dec. 27, 2021, offered to sell to undercover officers a substance containing a fentanyl-related compound in an amount that exceeded 10 grams but was less than 20 grams. Additionally, the indictment stated that on May 5, 2022, Whitfield possessed a fentanyl-related compound in an amount that exceeded 50 grams but was less than 100 grams.

Evidence was seized after members of the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force searched properties at 535 Catalpa Ave. and 501 S. West St., both in Lima.

Attorneys from the Allen County Public Defenders Office had filed a motion to suppress evidence seized during those raids, as well as the placement by law enforcement of a GPS tracking device on 2016 Jeep Cherokee for 45 days in April 2022.

The motions were negated by Whitfield’s plea on Thursday.

Judge Terri Kohlrieser sentenced the Lima man, who has a lengthy list of prior convictions as both a juvenile and adult, to eight years in prison on the possession count and seven years for trafficking.

A Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, a Glock 9 mm handgun and $4,162 in U.S. currency seized by officers during the case was ordered to be forfeited to the task force.