A California man has been sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy that targeted Alabama. Shanarion Lee, 32, of La Mesa, California, received a 46-month sentence after pleading guilty earlier this year. The sentencing took place on July 31, 2025. In addition to the prison term, Lee will serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration. Federal law does not allow parole.
Court documents show that the investigation began in March 2023 when the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service started looking into a drug-trafficking network suspected of moving fentanyl from California to Alabama. Authorities found that Lee worked with others—including Hillary Lewis, 32, of Lemon Grove, California, and James Walker, 35, of Enterprise, Alabama—to send illegal drugs to several addresses in the Middle District of Alabama.
Federal agents intercepted several packages during 2023 and 2024 containing pills made to resemble oxycodone tablets. Laboratory tests confirmed these pills were counterfeit and contained fentanyl.
Lee pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Earlier this year, Lewis and Walker also pleaded guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges related to the operation. Their sentencings are set for later this year.
The case was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service with help from the Enterprise Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Paul Markovits is prosecuting.
“Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that Shanarion Lee, 32, of La Mesa, California, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.”
