A major fentanyl trafficker who had been operating under a fake identity in Central Florida has been arrested following a high-level investigation by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in collaboration with the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The suspect, initially identifying himself as Eric Barnes, was later revealed to be Lloyd Anton Blair, a 47-year-old previously deported non-citizen who had illegally re-entered the United States and was evading federal probation for nearly a decade.
Blair had been using a Tampa auto body shop as a front for his drug operations, distributing large quantities of fentanyl throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Drugs & Cash Seized:
Over 2,500 pressed fentanyl pills
One pound of raw fentanyl
Half a pound of methamphetamine
Half a pound of marijuana
$4,000+ in U.S. currency
Authorities noted that the amount of fentanyl seized could have potentially caused hundreds of thousands of fatal overdoses, as just 2mg of fentanyl can be lethal.
Blair now faces multiple federal and state charges, including:
Trafficking in Fentanyl (14–28g and 28g+ x2)
Trafficking in Amphetamine (200g+)
Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Sell
Investigators also uncovered two suspicious parcels tied to Blair. With help from HSI, they intercepted:
12 pounds of marijuana en route to Tampa
3 pounds of methamphetamine in California
“Let this be a warning,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “If you hide behind a fake name, we will find you, we will stop you, and we will protect our community.”
Blair is currently in federal custody, and the investigation remains ongoing.
