All rights reserved. Mathews was arrested in August of 2020 and charged with a total of three drug-related violations including possession with purpose to deliver meth or cocaine, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. 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. In August 2020, a federal grand jury returned an Indictment charging several individuals in the Fort Smith, Arkansas area with a large-scale, multi-state drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. A person is presumed innocent unless or until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. fort smith, ar drug arrests. The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justices drug supply reduction strategy. FORT SMITH (KFSM) Seventeen people have been arrested for various drug-related charges. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. "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. 40/29 is your source for the latest local headlines and live alerts. The roundup came after an investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in Sebastian, Crawford and Logan counties lasting more than a year, according to a news release from the office of David Clay Fowlkes, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. 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. Fort Smith Police Dept. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma's local news leader! A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. Prescription medicines are toxic waste & pose a danger to people, pets, & the environment, so get rid of your expired & unneeded medications at a drug take back box & join us for the AR Drug Take Back Day 618 people died from a drug overdose in Arkansas in 2021 225 people die, everyday in America, from a drug overdose Together, we can change . Julie Ann Pyles - age 42, Fort Smith, Arkansas sentenced October 13, 2021 to 78 months BOP, $100 special assessment, $1,400 fine for Money Laundering. Those arrested were taken into custody beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 30) by Narcotic, SWAT and K9 officers at Fort Smith Police Department. 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. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. Eighteen defendants are facing federal charges in the Western District of Arkansas for alleged methamphetamine trafficking and money laundering schemes in the Fort Smith region. Western District of Arkansas We still have a person there who were not going to let die no matter what, Mounts said. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. THEFT BY RECEIVING. The pandemic has presented problems at all levels of drug abuse prevention, and thus people at all levels have tried to address it. 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, First Assistant U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes said in the news release. This was around the same time EMTs saw their spike in overdose calls. Fort Smith, AR 72903 479-783-1002 www.hhsafetycenter.org 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.. FORT SMITH (KFSM) Seventeen people have been arrested for various drug-related charges. COVID-19 also affected clients in the criminal justice system, Coats said. "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," she said. Around 6 a.m. 70 officers from multiple agencies went to execute 30 narcotic related search warrants in Dewitt, Stuttgart and Gillett. Coats said human interaction is not only an important part of recovery but also of staying away from drugs in the first place. 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. And he only mans one truck in three to four shifts in that time. He also said the wait time could prompt drug users to use more heavily because they know they will eventually receive treatment. Work Fort Smith Director Miles Crawford in April said widespread joblessness is a predicting factor in widespread drug abuse. 2:20 CR 20017-001-018 (Original Indictment issued August 26, 2020, Superseding Indictment issued October 7, 2020). Wright told KATV they were able to arrest 22 out of the 30 . He was returned to Sebastian Country one day prior to his sentencing on Friday. But COVID-19 has made their fight even tougher. 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. Dana Lamus-December 22, 2020. Twenty-two defendants federally accused of drug trafficking in Sebastian, Crawford and Logan counties allegedly pushed at least more than half a pound of methamphetamine onto the streets of the three counties since the beginning of 2019. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Paramedics, recovery specialists and law enforcement officials have faced obstacles in fighting the drug culture while also adhering to safety measures. An inflated market, an isolated population. Twenty-two defendants federally accused of drug trafficking in Sebastian, Crawford and Logan counties allegedly pushed at least more than half a pound of methamphetamine onto the streets of the three counties since the beginning of 2019. Methamphetamine use in 18 to 25 year-olds statewide is the second highest percentage in the nation (4.41%). That's where nearly a decade of addiction, parole violations and drug dealing caught up with her. An indictment is merely an accusation. This is because the patient is unable to tell the paramedics if they have been exposed to the virus until after he or she has been resuscitated. bfg ko2 wear indicator; . Meth is commonly sold in grams to its users. Undercover detectives conducted controlled. These violent offenders not only sold large quantities of methamphetamine, but also used firearms and committed acts of violence in furtherance of their crimes. An estimated 12,600 people lost their jobs in the Fort Smith region from restrictions placed on businesses, according to Western Arkansas Planning and Development District officials. The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justices drug supply reduction strategy. She is the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress from Florida. Recently, 14 of those. Like narcotics investigators and paramedics, Coats and others at Harbor House have seen drug addiction, and thus intakes, spike in the area. Constantly updated. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Western Arkansas drug sting results in fourteen arrests in three counties. A Pine bluff Man who has had at least 16 felony arrest since 2005 found himself sentenced to 12 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections on drug charges in proceedings that were held Friday in Sebastian County Circuit Court. "We could almost expect to see this increase," Smith said. 2023 www.swtimes.com. Investigators said they still have several outstanding warrants to serve and more arrests are expected to happen during the next few days. At one time, Federal marshals used to ride out of the United States and into Indian Territory at this juncture. 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. Now Mounts, a paramedic supervisor for Fort Smith EMS, responds to two or three such calls. Main Office: Michael Dean Wilson age 38, Hot Springs, Arkansas sentenced October 13, 2021 to 110 months BOP, $100 special assessment, $1900 fine for Conspiracy to Distribute a Mixture or Substance Containing Methamphetamine. The drug users in the Fort Smith region were willing to pay full price. 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. Have a question about Government Services? But Coats also says the wait list has increased because Harbor Houses treatment centers are some of the only treatment centers open in Arkansas. Read More. An arrest warrant represents a finding of probable cause. North Platte Woman Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Crime. The Drug Task Force has since established social distancing and personal protective equipment protocols to ensure they can continue their work. 414 Parker Avenue Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Carter is prosecuting the case for the Western District of Arkansas. Its hit them hard, but for the most part, theyre motivated to change their lives. This, in turn, can increase the likelihood of overdoses. Fort Smith, Arkansas is a city of convergence. Sebastian County Circuit Court is the highest trial court in Sebastian County. Fort Smith Man Sentenced To Five Years For Drug Store Burglary Drug Enforcement Administration Brad L. Byerley Special Agent in Charge New Orleans @DEANewOrleans July 01, 2013 Contact: SA Debbie Webber Phone Number: (571) 362-4803 For Immediate Release Fort Smith Man Sentenced To Five Years For Drug Store Burglary 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. An official website of the United States government. Lock Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Fort Smith, ARKANSAS - According to the statement, two people pleaded guilty in court to excavating and damaging archaeological resources. Perez-Echeverria, Valdez and another defendant on or around April 16 allegedly caused a financial transaction involving interstate commerce and the proceeds of meth sales knowing the transaction was designed in whole or in part to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership and control of the proceeds of the drug deal. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Brad L. Byerley, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Thursday that a "violent methamphetamine trafficking organization" with direct ties to Mexico and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and a reach extending to many states had been taken down. The four individuals were arrested on August 5, 2020, and are identified as Emmanuel Miranda, Israel Miranda-Zapata, Brenda Golden Day, and Alexis Tirado. But they also say drug trends were affected by economic effects of virus precautions. hard rock disneyland paris. Western District of Arkansas Smith said members of his team didnt execute as many search warrants at the beginning of the pandemic. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Carter prosecuted the case for the United States. The closest airport is Fort Smith Airport, located in town, but the nearest major airport is Northwest Arkansas Regional, 81 miles north of Fort Smith. Julio Ivan Enriquez-Munoz age 41, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma sentenced November 8, 2021 to 51 months BOP, $100 special assessment, $400 fine for Conspiracy to Distribute a Mixture or Substance Containing Methamphetamine. Fort Smith, AR 72901 Phone: 479-782-1046 Drug Court: 479-784-1507 Child Support: 479-784-1581 . Its another obstacle theyll have to overcome, but theyre motivated to overcome for sure, Coats said. 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. Because of this, Harbor House personnel have taken their clients outside for recreational activities as much as they can. Smith and others in drug enforcement have continued their drug education efforts in the schools like they did before the pandemic. 1:32. 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 . Those arrested were taken into custody beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 30) by Narcotic, SWAT. FORT SMITH (KFSM) Seventeen people have been arrested for various drug-related charges. The charges to all 18 defendants are part of a large-scale, multi-state drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy, according to a Thursday news release from the Western District. At about 10 a.m. the bodies were found in the 1800 block of South Greenwood Avenue. Mathews was arrested in August of 2020 and charged with a total of three drug-related violations including possession with purpose to deliver meth or cocaine, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. Ledesma and a defendant not arrested on at least two occasions each dealt more than 50 grams of the substance, the indictment states. POSS W/PURP TO DEL CONT SUB STIMULANTS. 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. Official websites use .gov The Fort Smith Arrest Records Search (Arkansas) links below open in a new window and take you to third party websites that provide access to Fort Smith public records. Todays announcement 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. 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 . Ive ran into a couple of people who have overdosed over the past few days, most of them accidentally, Mounts said. Once Joe Biden assumed power, there was every reason to keep details of his and his family's corruption hidden from the public. Once a bed opens up, a drug user must recover in a different Harbor House than he would outside the pandemic. February 22, 2023. 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. Once you have located the individual's name in the index, you will be able to search the criminal case files that have been digitized and made available on Ancestry . All rights reserved. If the family member does overdose, he said, the family members should make sure his or her airway is clear and call 911. And clients are limited from coming into the building except on specific instances like medical calls, meals and counselor groups. This is up from a wait time that under normal circumstances can stretch up to two months, Coats said. fort smith, ar drug arrests. Crime in the United States 2020 - Arrests and Arrest Table: Arrests for Drug Abuse Violations.Washington, DC: US Dept. One State Police Plaza Dr. Little Rock, AR 72209. All complaints regarding the accuracy of information contained in these documents should be submitted, in writing, to the Jail Administrative Office, Sebastian County Sheriff, 801 South A Street, Fort Smith AR, 72901. Included in that have been at least six parole revocation arrests. 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. darden anniversary pay 2020; beowulf energy paul prager net worth; power county press police log; dave hakstol contract. Booking Date: 02-13-2023 - 3:14 pm. Sebastian County Circuit Judge Stephen Tabor said drug testing has resumed. These arrests are for a variety of drugs ranging from marijuana to meth and cocaine. 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