Fentanyl Trafficker, Deondre Hightower, Arrested – 72K Doses Seized

BAY COUNTY, FL – The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest of Deondre Hightower following a narcotics trafficking investigation involving fentanyl. 

The BCSO Special Investigations Division concluded an extensive investigation that resulted in the seizure of 144.3 grams of fentanyl. 

On January 7, 2026, investigators finalized an investigation into a fentanyl trafficker operating out of Pensacola, Florida. Deondre Hightower, age 27. Hightower traveled to Bay County on two separate occasions and sold fentanyl to an undercover narcotics investigator. 

During the first transaction, Hightower delivered 29.7 grams of fentanyl. During the second transaction, he delivered 114.6 grams, bringing the total amount seized to 144.3 grams.  

For reference, just 1-gram amount of fentanyl is considered extremely deadly. The fatal dose for most adults can be as little as two milligrams (2 mg), an amount equivalent to a few grains of salt. One gram (1g) is equal to 1,000 milligrams (1,000 mg). 

Hightower was taken into custody without incident with the assistance of the Criminal Investigations Division and Warrants Division in Panama City Beach. 

Hightower was arrested and charged with the following offenses: 

Hightower faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison for the trafficking fentanyl charge.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to aggressively targeting narcotics traffickers who bring dangerous drugs into our community.