2 men sentenced in synthetic drug case

Two men accused of conspiring to distribute synthetic designer drugs were sentenced in federal court on Wednesday.

Brothers Amjad Kattom, 37, and Fadi Qtouf, 29, of Little Rock, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Christopher Thyer said in a news release.

The men were arrested and charged in June 2013 as part of Project Synergy, an effort by law enforcement to crack down on the distribution of designer drugs, commonly known as K2, spice and bath salts, Thyer said.

A federal complaint alleged the two men were conspiring to distribute these synthetic drugs through businesses in central Arkansas, including Sunshine Food, Sunshine Mart, Woodrow Discount Store, Joseph's Discount Store, Smokey's Discount Tobacco and Hip Hop Sportswear from July 2012 through June 2013, according to a news release.

The court sentenced Kattom to 70 months in prison, three years of supervised release, a $5,000 fine and a $100 special assessment fee, Thyer said.

Qtouf was sentenced to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, a $5,000 fine and a $100 special assessment fee, according to Thyer.

Kattom and Qtouf are currently listed as inmates on the Pulaski County sheriff's office inmate roster.

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Pulaski County Sheriff's Office

Amjad Kattom, 37.

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Pulaski County Sheriff's Office

Fadi Qtouf, 29, of Little Rock.

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