Ocala Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges of Possessing Fentanyl, Methamphetamine and Cocaine for Distribution

OCALA, Florida — Jimmy Deon Lofton pleaded guilty Monday to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced.

The 46-year-old Ocala resident admitted to possessing fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine with the intent to distribute them. A sentencing date has not been set.

Under federal sentencing guidelines, Lofton faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a statutory maximum of 40 years in prison. The plea resolves the case without trial.

The conviction triggers immediate consequences for Lofton, who will now undergo a presentence investigation and appear before a federal judge for final sentencing. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Gregory W. Kehoe, will recommend a sentence within the statutory range once the probation office submits its report.

The case forms part of the Justice Department’s ongoing effort to prosecute mid-level drug distributors in north-central Florida. Federal prosecutors in the Middle District have filed hundreds of similar distribution cases in the past 24 months as overdose deaths linked to fentanyl have remained elevated in Marion County and surrounding areas.

This marks the latest guilty plea secured by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Ocala federal court this year. The original charges against Lofton were brought under Title 21 of the U.S. Code, the primary statute used to prosecute fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking cases nationwide.

Sentencing will occur after the completion of Lofton’s presentence report, a process that typically takes 60 to 90 days from the date of plea. The court must impose at least the five-year mandatory minimum unless prosecutors file a substantial-assistance motion under federal guidelines.