HOT SPRINGS - Five Hot Springs men arrested June 19 as part of a multiagency operation targeting drug trafficking and violent crime were sentenced Dec. 13 in U.S. District Court.
The investigation, known as Spa City Special, resulted in a total of 19 indictments being handed up by a federal grand jury in June, said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas Conner Eldridge in a news release. Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing of the suspects.
“As a result of the diligence of this investigation, the dangerous illegal activity and the threat of violence from these defendants in Hot Springs and the surrounding area have been disrupted,” Eldridge said. “We will continue to work together to dismantle drug-trafficking and gang-related violence in southwestern Arkansas and across the Western District of Arkansas.”
Beginning in March 2012, the Hot Springs Police Department’s street crimes unit - in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - launched an investigation in response to emerging gang violence and drug trafficking. More than 80 controlled buys of crack cocaine and methamphetamine were conducted during the course of the investigation, as well as the seizure of numerous firearms.
Carlos Brewer, 35, of Hot Springs was sentenced to seven years in prison without the possibility of parole and three years of supervised release for distributing crack cocaine. On Oct. 30, 2012, Brewer sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant.
Allen Fair, 28, of Hot Springs was sentenced to seven years in prison without the possibility of parole and three years of supervised release for distributing crack cocaine. On May 31, 2012, Fair sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant.
Quinton Kingsby, 33, of Hot Springs was sentenced to three years, five months in prison without the possibility of parole and three years of supervised release for distributing crack cocaine. On July 31, 2012, Kingsby sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant.
Richard Stapleton, 37, of Hot Springs was sentenced to four years, three months in prison without the possibility of parole and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On Dec. 10, 2012, Stapleton sold a firearm to a confidential informant. Stapleton was previously convicted of a felony offense.
Tommy Woodfork, 40, was sentenced to 5 years in prison without the possibility of parole and three years of supervised release for distributing crack cocaine. On Sept. 13, 2012, Woodfork sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elser and David Harris prosecuted the cases for the United States.
Arkansas, Pages 15 on 12/26/2013