An eight-month investigation into a major drug trafficking organization operating across Northwest Florida culminated last week with 15 arrests and the seizure of nearly 15 pounds of fentanyl, 58 pounds of methamphetamine, and 30 firearms.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announced the results of Operation Nottingham at a press conference Tuesday morning, revealing the scope of an investigation that began in April and involved multiple local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams said, “Last week was a busy week. With the assistance of our law enforcement partners, we executed 22 high-risk search warrants. I’m proud to report all of those operations were carried out safely, and as a result, 15 suspects are now in custody. Additional warrants remain active for several outstanding individuals.”
He continued, “In total, this operation, we identified more than 20 co-conspirators involved in distributing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs throughout the greater Pensacola area. Many of these individuals are convicted felons and repeat offenders with significant criminal histories. I’m immensely proud of the work by our agents and our analysts dismantling this organized drug trafficking network, and I’m grateful to stand here today to announce the results of the operation.”
The Operation
FDLE agents identified Michael Perry Robinson as the leader of a drug trafficking organization operating in Northwest Florida. According to FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass, the investigation revealed the organization was trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other narcotics throughout the region.
On Nov. 19 and 20, law enforcement executed 22 search warrants across the area. The operation involved FDLE agents and analysts from Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville regions, along with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshal’s Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, and Gulf Breeze Police Department.
- “It takes a lot more than just one team,” Sheriff Simmons explained on “(We Don’t) Color on the Dog” podcast. “And some of these people are dangerous. They’re arrested. They’ve been arrested before. We knew there were guns involved.”
Armored Vehicles @Home Depot
Social media lit up last week with images of armored vehicles at the Home Depot on Mobile Highway. Sheriff Simmons confirmed those sightings were connected to Operation Nottingham.
- “We used our SWAT team, a couple of search warrants. The Pensacola Police Department used their SWAT team,” Simmons said. “And our SWAT team comes with a big truck. Pensacola police is a big truck. We have a big truck and we use both of them. It’d be crazy for us not to use what’s available to us if there’s a chance that something may go wrong.”
The sheriff emphasized the dangers involved: “These are dangerous individuals. They’re not only dangerous to the community with the drugs that they’re putting into our community, but also obviously with 30 guns that were seized over the course of 22 search warrants. It’s a pretty big deal.”
Massive Seizures
Throughout the investigation, agents conducted several undercover operations. Combined with the search warrants, law enforcement seized:
- 14.6 pounds of fentanyl
- 58 pounds of methamphetamine
- 35 pounds of marijuana
- 23 pounds of MDMA
- 2.5 pounds of cocaine
- 30 firearms
- More than $60,800 in cash
Simmons noted that the sheriff’s office also conducted separate operations during this period. “You’ve seen the last week, we’ve done a couple search warrants, sheriff’s office specific, and we got almost four kilos, well, I’m sorry, almost five kilos of powder fentanyl and mixture just last week.”
- The investigation’s length—eight months from April to November—reflects the complex nature of tracking sophisticated drug trafficking operations. Simmons said, “That’s the value of having senior, experienced investigators that can pivot. It can say, ‘Okay, this is not exactly all we have to go on now, that’s expanded. Let’s get a search warrant. Oh, we have a search warrant, but let’s hold off on that one until we get another search warrant, and then let’s get maybe even a wiretap.’”
The S.A.F.E. Grant Program
Operation Nottingham was funded by the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E.) grant program, created by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023.
- “Florida has drawn a hard, unmistakable line against fentanyl in our neighborhoods,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass in a written statement. “If you bring deadly drugs into Florida, you will be found, you will be arrested, and you will go to prison. The S.A.F.E. program, created by Governor DeSantis in 2023, has delivered exactly what was promised: more resources for law enforcement, more takedowns of traffickers, and record seizures of fentanyl, as seen today.”
Sheriff Simmons confirmed the program’s impact locally: “I do have to mention this safe grant state, millions of dollars that Governor DeSantis has decided that he would make available through the FDLE available to local agencies. And I can tell you we’re making use of that…The results speak for themselves.”
The Arrests
Agents arrested Jashu Bonner, Gretchen Duplechain, Billy Johnson, Antoine Jones, Michael Robinson, Anthony Saulsberry, Donterious Evans, Ivory Fogan, Courtney Killette, Anthony Kimble, Colton Sims, Johnny Stallworth, Rhondell Grandison, John Porterfield and Cordarious Wheeler.
“All these bad guys that are going to jail hopefully for a long time because all that fentanyl trafficking and with that much fentanyl, they’re going to stay in jail for a long time,” Simmons said. “They may as well get something near life sentences for some of the people that are responsible for bringing it in.”
Looking Forward
While acknowledging the significance of Operation Nottingham, Sheriff Simmons maintained realistic expectations about the ongoing battle against drug trafficking.
- “We’re not naive. We understand drugs are coming in from a number of different places, but you know what? Every little bit helps,” he said. “Every bad guy that goes to prison may dissuade two or three people from doing it themselves. And I think all that is very important for us. I think that it’s very important for our community.”
The multi-agency approach will continue. “You cannot do things like this on your own,” Simmons emphasized. “I am very proud. I mentioned last week that I’m proud of the work that we’re doing. I’m proud of the partnerships.”
“Our entire region is safer today than it was a week ago,” Simmons concluded.
