FORT SMITH, AR – Eleven final defendants tied to a large-scale drug trafficking organization that operated in the Fort Smith area have been sentenced to federal prison terms.
According to court records, as early as November of 2013, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) learned that large quantities of methamphetamine were being distributed by a multi-state drug trafficking organization led by William Alexander. During the investigation, agents made more than 10 controlled buys and executed at least five search warrants, which resulted in the seizure of about nine pounds of meth.
“These defendants brought a significant amount of methamphetamine into the Western District of Arkansas where they sold and distributed it into our communities. The drug trafficking organization responsible has now been dismantled, and its members have been held responsible for their actions. We remain committed to working with our partners in law enforcement to identify and aggressively prosecute those who bring drugs and crime into our communities,”said Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas in a news release issued on Friday.
“Methamphetamine has the ability to destroy entire communities,” added DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, David Downing. “The victims are often children and families who live in neighborhoods where meth dealers pedal their poison. This investigation is a prime example of law enforcement working together to halt those responsible for and profiting from the spread of this vicious drug. DEA is proud to be a part of the law enforcement efforts that have helped free this area of these drug dealers who tried to take this community as their own.”
The defendants were sentenced as follows:
- William Joseph Alexander, aka “Weenie”, 33, of Fort Smith, sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.
- Randall Jernigan, 31, of Fort Smith, sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
- Bobby Chanthavong, 32, of Fort Smith, sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute.
- Blake Bronson Wright, 28, of Van Buren, was sentenced to two years followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
- Gary Nathaniel Rogers, 29, of Huntington, sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
- Gentry Alan Rainwater Sr., 55, of Fort Smith, sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.
- Kevin Dale Hatley, 35, of Fort Smith, sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
- Joshua Wade Russell, 30, of Jonesboro, sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
- Larry Dale Batt, aka “Spooky”, 32, of Fort Smith, sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.
- Theresa Susan Thompson, 51, of Fort Smith, sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.
- Rosa Sharon, 50, of Fort Smith, sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Fort Smith Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Clay Fowlkes prosecuted the cases for the United States.