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Fentanyl Dealer Traveous Anderson Pleads Guilty: How a Prior Conviction Led to a Decade-Long Prison Sentence

Palmetto man, Traveous Anderson, pleaded guilty to fentanyl distribution, faces 10+ years due to prior conviction.

byEditorial Staff

August 27, 2025, 5:26 PM

A hand holds a syringe filled with a dark liquid over a table with a pile of white powder and pills

A person's hand with a syringe, surrounded by pills, a lighter, and a pile of white powder on a wooden table. By MDL.

Executive Summary

Palmetto man Traveous Anderson pleaded guilty to new federal charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute over 40 grams of a fentanyl mixture.

Anderson faces an enhanced minimum penalty of 10 years to life in federal prison due to his prior conviction and re-offending while on supervised release.

The new offenses involved multiple fentanyl transactions with a DEA confidential source between April and May 2024.

Laws and Precedent

The defendant pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture, which are prosecuted under federal drug trafficking laws, likely the Controlled Substances Act. His sentence faces an enhanced minimum penalty due to his prior federal conviction for distributing fentanyl, reflecting federal sentencing guidelines for repeat drug offenders, and these new offenses constitute a violation of his federal supervised release.

A Palmetto man previously on federal supervised release for distributing fentanyl has pleaded guilty to new charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture. Traveous Anderson, 39, faces an enhanced minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison due to his prior conviction, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. A sentencing date for Anderson has not yet been set.

Details of the Conspiracy

Court records indicate that between April and May 2024, Anderson engaged in multiple fentanyl transactions with a confidential source from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). During this period, Anderson conspired with others and possessed with the intent to distribute over 40 grams of a fentanyl mixture.

Significantly, at the time of these new offenses, Anderson was already serving a term of federal supervised release. This release stemmed from a previous conviction for distributing fentanyl, making him a repeat offender in drug distribution crimes.

Co-Defendant’s Sentencing

Anderson’s co-defendant in the conspiracy, Alexis Soto Escalante, previously pleaded guilty to related charges. Escalante was sentenced on June 18, 2025, to 5 years and 10 months’ imprisonment for their role in the drug distribution scheme.

Investigation and Prosecution

The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation into Anderson and his co-conspirators. Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang is prosecuting the case, underscoring the Department of Justice’s ongoing efforts to combat fentanyl distribution.

Anderson’s guilty plea highlights the severe consequences for individuals involved in fentanyl trafficking, particularly those who re-offend while under federal supervision. The case underscores the continued focus of federal authorities on disrupting the distribution networks of this dangerous opioid.