According to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, law enforcement authorities arrested 15 people on Oct. 23 after 49 indictments were handed down for allegations of participation in major drug rings in the state. Three large drug rings were targeted by undercover officers, including the Monterrio Fuller, Desmond Kelley, and Clifton Williams drug trafficking organizations.
The sting operation was started in June 2018 by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration from their field offices in Little Rock. The law enforcement officers worked undercover within the drug trafficking organizations to dismantle the major traffickers of fentanyl in the state.
During the operation, authorities reportedly seized 1,600 grams of fentanyl, 21,000 grams of methamphetamines, 5,000 fentanyl tablets, 53,000 grams of cocaine, and 28 firearms. The FBI handled two of the investigations while the DEA handled the third. A total of 23 people have been indicted from the Clifton Williams drug ring, and 17 people were indicted from the Desmond Kelley drug ring. Nine people from the Monterrio Fuller ring were also indicted.
While all drug charges are serious, drug trafficking can result in especially severe penalties. People who are facing federal charges for serious drug felonies might want to seek help from experienced drug crimes lawyers as soon as possible. Attorneys who are experienced with defending against allegations of drug offenses in both the state and federal court systems might be able to secure more favorable outcomes for their clients. Lawyers may carefully analyze the facts and evidence to identify potential problems with the state’s cases against their clients. They might build the strongest defenses available to their clients to protect their rights and their freedom.
Source: Fox News, “15 additional fentanyl arrests, 49 indictments in Arkansas drug trafficking rings“, Vandana Rambaran, Oct. 23, 2019