Tyler Watkins
•9/4/2026
A Clewiston man was sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing nearly 140 grams of fentanyl to an undercover agent in Moore Haven. The U.S. Department of Justice's Middle District of Florida said Johnny Lewis Hunter, 53, was sentenced as a career offender because of his two previous federal drug trafficking convictions. According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration received information that Hunter was distributing fentanyl in Clewiston and Moore Haven. An undercover agent then purchased a total of 139 grams of fentanyl from Hunter in Moore Haven between Jan. 6 and Feb. 5. The DEA executed an arrest warrant on Hunter and found an additional 81.4 grams of fentanyl in his possession on March 26. The Hendry County Sheriff's Office also assisted the DEA in investigating this case. The DOJ said Hunter was 0n supervised release at the time of his arrest for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in Virginia. He previously served 10 years in federal prison for that case. Before that, Hunter also served 13 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base in Florida. Hunter pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl June 3 and was sentenced to 19 years and two months in federal prison. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.
