FORT SMITH -- Eight people were sentenced in federal court this week to prison terms for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution ring in the Fort Smith area.
A news release from the U.S. attorney's office said the sentences ranged from one year and three months to four years and nine months. The cases were investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fort Smith Police Department.
The release said the drug ring was led by William Joseph Alexander, 33, of Fort Smith, who was sentenced in March to more than 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Court records showed Alexander was arrested July 13 along with his wife, Rosa Sharon, 50, as they returned to Fort Smith from Oklahoma City with nearly 7 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in an electronics box.
Sharon was sentenced in March to three years one month in prison.
Another co-defendant, Randall Jernigan, 31, of Fort Smith was sentenced in February to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of distribution of methamphetamine.
Others sentenced this week, according to the news release, were:
• Bobby Chanthavong, 32, of Fort Smith, three years and one month.
• Blake Bronson Wright, 28, of Van Buren, two years.
• Gary Nathaniel Rogers, 29, of Huntington, one year and nine months.
• Gentry Alan Rainwater Sr., 55, four years and nine months.
• Kevin Dale Hatley, 35, of Fort Smith, two years and nine months.
• Joshua Wade Russell, 30, of Jonesboro, one year and nine months.
• Larry Dale Batt, 32, of Fort Smith, one year and nine months.
• Theresa Susan Thompson, 51, of Fort Smith, one year and three months.
NW News on 06/20/2015