Antonio Markel Hewitt
33-year-old Antonio Markel Hewitt of Hickory, was sentenced Thursday (December 14) to 96 months (eight years) in prison followed by four years of supervised release for distribution of fentanyl. The announcement was made by J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department was among those joining U.S. Attorney King in making the announcement.
According to filed documents and Thursday’s court proceedings, in April 2022, investigators became aware that Hewitt was involved in the distribution of fentanyl in the Catawba County area. Court records show that law enforcement conducted an investigation into Hewitt, that included multiple controlled fentanyl purchases from the defendant at or near his home.
On June 21, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Hewitt’s residence. During the search, law enforcement seized four firearms, one of which was affixed with a high capacity magazine, ammunition, and digital scales. On March 8, 2023, Hewitt pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of fentanyl. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
As of earlier today (December 15), Hewitt was being held at the Catawba County Detention Facility in Newton. The ATF and the Hickory Police Department conducted the investigation.
Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY