Secure .gov websites use HTTPS This prosecution is part of the Western District of Arkansas Operation Bear Mountain Bingo, which is part of the Department of Justices Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. 202300706. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 1:32. Outlaws collided with Federal Judge Parker. The individuals arrested today enriched themselves off the misery and sufferings of others, said FBI Little Rock Field Office Special Agent in Charge Diane Upchurch in the news release. "This investigation has dealt a serious setback to drug trafficking organizations that endanger not only our communities in the Western District of Arkansas, but also other communities throughout the nation," Fowlkes said. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Carter is prosecuting the case for the Western District of Arkansas. Most of them will say, This truck came out or that truck came out.. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. FORT SMITH -- Fourteen people were arrested by federal, state and local law enforcement in connection with alleged drug distribution and money laundering in western Arkansas on Thursday. Paramedics, recovery specialists and law enforcement officials have faced obstacles in fighting the drug culture while also adhering to safety measures. The drug users in the Fort Smith region were willing to pay full price. Their indictment was related to a similar previous indictment from which defendants Emmanual Miranda, Israel Miranda-Zapata, Brenda Golden Day and Alexis Tirado were arrested on Aug. 5. Since that arrest in August of 2020, Matthews has chalked up at least three more felony arrest, a number of which came in the 15th Judicial District in Scott County. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The defendants who were arrested today will be scheduled to appear in the United States District in Fort Smith before United States Magistrate Judge Mark Ford in the coming days. This investigation has dealt a serious setback to drug trafficking organizations that endanger not only our communities in the Western District of Arkansas but also other communities throughout the nation, stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes, The indictments and arrests in this case were only made possible due to the unprecedented cooperation between Federal, State and Local Agencies. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Its another obstacle theyll have to overcome, but theyre motivated to overcome for sure, Coats said. This investigation resulted the arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment of twenty-two (22) individual drug traffickers and money launderers and the seizure of approximately 6.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 15 firearms, and $146,687 in funds derived from drug trafficking. Thirty-seven -year-old Carlton Deshane Mathews, who has addresses listed in both Pine Bluff and Waldron, appeared in court on a number of felony drug counts on Friday. Ive got people who are in treatment right now who are either here or in drug court or probation or parolees who because of the virus were not able to report to their probation officers anymore because the offices were shut down, which in turn means they were not being drug tested, which means there was no accountability there, Coats said. The indictment included fifteen counts, all of which involved the distribution of methamphetamine or laundering of money earned from the distribution of methamphetamine. A locked padlock Fort Smith, AR 72901. We still have a person there who were not going to let die no matter what, Mounts said. New Orleans Resident Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy. Ive ran into a couple of people who have overdosed over the past few days, most of them accidentally, Mounts said. Perez-Echeverria two days later allegedly conducted a similar transaction with Rodriguez and Pyles. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. Press Release This created an inflation in the U.S. drug market during March and April, said 12th and 21st District Drug Task Force Director Paul Smith. By accessing this site, you agree to the foregoing disclaimer and agree to hold the agencies and institutions enumerated herein . 901 South "B" Street. FORT SMITH (KFSM) Seventeen people have been arrested for various drug-related charges. 100 S 10th St, Fort Smith, AR 72901, United States Fort Smith Police @FortSmithPD Friday, February 24th, 2023 at 7:06pm TRAFFIC ALERT: Rogers / Phoenix Avenues, two-vehicle accident, see release for more details https://t.co/wu7qpp8vyK 0 1 Fort Smith Police @FortSmithPD Friday, February 24th, 2023 at 11:00am Its first fort was built at Belle Point, where the Arkansas and Poteau rivers unite. These arrests are for a variety of drugs ranging from marijuana to meth and cocaine. Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma's local news leader! Meth is commonly sold in grams to its users. The four individuals were arrested on August 5, 2020, and are identified as Emmanuel Miranda, Israel Miranda-Zapata, Brenda Golden Day, and Alexis Tirado. The Sebastian County Arrest Records Search (Arkansas) links below open in a new window and take you to third party websites that provide access to Sebastian County public records. DEA Fort Smith, AR; McAllister, OK; Atlanta, GA, FBI Fort Smith, AR; Oklahoma City, OK; Miami, FL, U.S. This Indictment is directly related to a previous Indictment issued in July 2020, in which four (4) additional defendants were charged in a similar methamphetamine distribution scheme. The final members of an Arkansas River Valley group have been sentenced to federal prison for the Distribution of Methamphetamine. fort smith, ar drug arrests. He received six years on each felony conviction, but that time was tolled to run concurrently. Twelve members of illegal operation sentenced to federal prison terms. Philip Pevehouse. He was returned to Sebastian Country one day prior to his sentencing on Friday. But sometimes, its left them with more questions than answers. Harbor personnel plan to treat their clients with the best possible care while preventing the spread of the virus as much as they can, Coats said. The July indictment alleges Miranda-Zapata and Miranda on Feb. 12 distributed more than 50 grams of meth. Have a question about Government Services? Since the beginning of the pandemic in March, the wait list for beds at Harbor House has almost doubled. fort smith, ar drug arrests. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. 414 Parker Avenue
The Drug Task Force has since established social distancing and personal protective equipment protocols to ensure they can continue their work. So to say the pandemic doesnt have anything to do with it would be kind of nave, Mounts said. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. All rights reserved. This investigation resulted the arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment of twenty-two (22) individual drug traffickers and money launderers and the seizure of approximately 6.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 15 firearms, and $146,687 in funds derived from drug trafficking. A number of those who were arrested were booked into the Sebatian County Detention Center and will be featured in. Israel Miranda-Zapata age 30, Fort Smith, Arkansas sentenced April 1, 2021 to 108 months BOP and $100 special assessment for Conspiracy to Distribute More Than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine. COVID-19 has increased the risk of all EMS calls but especially overdoses, Mounts said. Its hit them hard, but for the most part, theyre motivated to change their lives. Fort Smith Police Dept. This, in turn, can increase the likelihood of overdoses. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nations illicit drug supply. FORT SMITH (KFSM) Seventeen people have been arrested for various drug-related charges. 901 S. B Street, Suite 103 Fort Smith, AR 72901 Note: Requests for corrections will not be accepted by telephone. And despite the pandemic, Coatss clients are determined to overcome drug addiction, he said. I dont know how we can fix it, Smith said, adding that drug addiction is an age-old problem that people struggled to prevent before COVID-19. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A Florida judge has issued an arrest warrant for rapper Kodak Black for failing a drug test while on bail for a drug charge . Narcotics investigators spent several months investigating the cases of the 17. Because of persistent and collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies in the area, a major supplier of methamphetamine to this region of Arkansas is out of business, said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley. COVID-19 also affected clients in the criminal justice system, Coats said. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. These realities dont account for the mental toll the pandemic has taken on both users and people who otherwise might not have turned to drugs, officials say. This OCDETF operation is a joint investigation between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), the Fort Smith Police Department, the Crawford County Sheriffs Office, the Logan County Sheriffs Office, the Sebastian County Sheriffs Office, the Greenwood Police Department, the Paris Police Department and the Arkansas State Police. Our strategies include but not limited to problem-solving techniques; building robust and lasting partnerships with all stakeholders, transparency, educating the community, accountability, and open dialogue with the residents and guest of Fort Smith. The individuals arrested today are: Manuel Chuy De Jesus Perez-Echeverria, Humberto Beto Acosta-Martinez, Julio Ivan Enriquez-Munoz, Alberto Ledesma, Efrain Maciel-Martinez, Traye Everett Martin, Julie Ann Pyles, Ezequiel Rodriguez, Paula Lynne Rider, Ronal Salinas, Benjamin Ben Valdez, Amber Renee Vance, Emily Elizabeth Williams, and Michael Dean Wilson. 2023 www.swtimes.com. "This operation has taken 21 drug dealers off the streets of our communities," stated Cody Hiland, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Once Joe Biden assumed power, there was every reason to keep details of his and his family's corruption hidden from the public. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Coats, a former heroin user, said human connection is an integral part of recovery. Fourteen of the defendants were arrested Thursday on a fifteen-count indictment involving the distribution of methamphetamine and money laundering from the alleged drug trafficking scheme. Largest Database of Sebastian County Mugshots. Today, DEA, in collaboration with our Federal, State and Local law enforcement partners, took down a violent methamphetamine trafficking organization, with direct ties to Mexico and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and whose tentacles extended beyond Arkansas to many other states, stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley. Family visits have been prohibited. This was around the same time EMTs saw their spike in overdose calls. Working alongside the (Drug Enforcement Administration) and our tremendous Arkansas law enforcement partners, we are committed to dismantling criminal organizations who flood our communities with dangerous narcotics and create violence in our neighborhoods.. The defendants who were arrested today will be scheduled to appear in the United States District in Fort Smith before United States Magistrate Judge Mark Ford in the coming days. Editors note: This story has been corrected to accurately state how often Fort Smith EMS paramedics respond to drug overdose calls. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Carter is prosecuting the case for the Western District of Arkansas. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. 501-618-8000. Step 2. This Indictment is directly related to a previous Indictment issued in July 2020, in which four (4) additional defendants were charged in a similar methamphetamine distribution scheme. The indictments and arrests in this case were only made possible due to the unprecedented cooperation between Federal, State and Local Agencies.. Sebastian County Circuit Court is the highest trial court in Sebastian County. MENU MENU. During the Civil War, the North met the South here with . Working alongside the DEA and our tremendous Arkansas law enforcement partners, we are committed to dismantling criminal organizations who flood our communities with dangerous narcotics and create violence in our neighborhoods. Multiple sheriff's deputies shot in officer-involved shooting. People were asked to avoid the area as first responders arrived, police reported. Press Release. Ronal Salinas age 24, Fort Smith, Arkansas sentenced October 5, 2021 to 33 months BOP, $100 special assessment, $900 fine for Distribution of More Than Five (5) Grams of Methamphetamine. Official websites use .gov darden anniversary pay 2020; beowulf energy paul prager net worth; power county press police log; dave hakstol contract. This helps compensate for services that would otherwise be offered, Coats said. A federal grand jury returned an indictment in August charging multiple people in the Fort Smith area with a "large-scale, multi-state drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy," the release states. An official website of the United States government. Any time we advocate for not using drugs or staying away, we do it, but I dont know what the answer is, he said. The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justices drug supply reduction strategy. Because of persistent and collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies in the area, a major supplier of methamphetamine to this region of Arkansas is out of business., The individuals arrested today enriched themselves off the misery and sufferings of others, stated Special Agent in Charge Diane Upchurch of the FBI Little Rock Field Office. The pandemic has presented problems at all levels of drug abuse prevention, and thus people at all levels have tried to address it. The local numbers reflect the statewide ones Arkansas from March through July has seen a 130% administration increase in the opioid counter agent naloxone, according to the Arkansas Drug Directors office. David Clay Fowlkes, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, Brad L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Diane L. Upchurch, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, announced that 14 individuals were arrested today by federal, state, and local law enforcement as part of a roundup following an over year-long investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in Sebastian, Crawford, and Logan Counties in Arkansas. The defendants arrested Thursday are Manuel DeJesus Perez-Echeverria, Humberto Acosta-Martinez, Julio Ivan Enriquez-Munoz, Alberto Ledesma, Efrain Maciel-Martinez, Traye Everett Martin, Julie Ann Pyles, Ezequiel Rodriguez, Paula Lynne Rider, Ronal Salinas, Benjamin Valdez, Amber Renee Vance, Emily Elizabeth Williams and Michael Dean Wilson. Fort Smith, AR 72901. Measures put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Arkansas created an environment that lends itself to drug use, officials say. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. FORT SMITH, Ark. A F0rt Smith-based drug dealer who has been arrested for over a dozen drug-related felonies in the past sixteen years in Sebastian County entered a guity plea to Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver and Possession of a Controlled Substance in a plea agreement with the Sebastian County Prosecutor's Office and picked up a six year sentence with an additional fourteen years suspended. Undercover detectives conducted controlled. A Fort Smith man with multiple felony and misdemeanor arrests and convictions dating all the way back to 2014 was sentenced to the Arkansas Department of Corrections for 25 years plus five years suspended on charges of trafficking drugs, possession of Schedule VI controlled substances, and maintaining a premises for drug activities. Ezequiel Rodriguez age 43. Richard James Vineyard age 33, Fort Smith, Arkansas sentenced November 9, 2021 to 120 months BOP, $100 special assessment, $900 fine for Conspiracy to Distribute a Mixture or Substance Containing Methamphetamine. If the family member does overdose, he said, the family members should make sure his or her airway is clear and call 911. An indictment is merely an accusation. First responders and investigators commonly face challenges when trying to prevent drug abuse. He is serving out his current sentence in the Delta Regional Unit in Dermont. Suspect in shooting of Springdale woman shot by officer after pointing gun at police, Communication program for people with nonverbal autistm coming to Fort Smith, Heavy rain and storms likely to increase Thursday across Arkansas, Storm warning fatigue | Alerting Arkansas. 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