Stories by Dale Ellis

Man's illness nets lesser sentence Due to a life-threatening illness, a man affiliated with the founder of a notorious Little Rock street gang avoided prison Friday but will instead serve three years on supervised release with credit f... June 12, 2021

Disability-aid scam draws 2-year term A Little Rock man was sentenced to two years in federal prison for collecting over $250,000 in Social Security disability payments when he was not actually disabled. Levell Baltimore Jr., 45, was sen... June 12, 2021

Missouri abortion ruling bolsters ACLU hopes in Arkansas case A ruling handed down Wednesday by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a Missouri abortion dispute is being taken as a hopeful sign for plaintiffs challenging similar abortion laws in Arkansas. A... June 10, 2021

'19 escape adds 18 months to Pope County drug boss's 35-year term A Pope County man recently sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for his leadership role in a violent white-supremacist drug trafficking organization was sentenced to an additional 18 months for a 2... June 10, 2021

Probation ordered in Social Security theft A Yell County woman was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to a year of probation and ordered to pay more than $27,000 to the Social Security Administration in restitution for benefits she was not ent... June 10, 2021

2 men sentenced in federal court on drug offenses Two men who pleaded guilty last year to being involved in a drug trafficking ring in and around Cross County were sentenced this week in federal court. Elliot D. Davis, 41, of Parkin pleaded guilty i... June 10, 2021

New infections up 30 in a day; active cases dip Officials with the Arkansas Department of Health say covid-19 infections continue trending downward as more vaccinations are administered throughout the state and the number of fully vaccinated Arkans... June 1, 2021

Ex-Little Rock gang leader gets 15-year term A former Little Rock gang leader of the Wolfe Street Crips has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a marijuana conspiracy as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of a d... May 29, 2021

Felon sentenced to five years for having a firearm A Lonoke County man who came under the scrutiny of the FBI because of suspected terrorist ties was sentenced this week to five years in federal prison on an indictment charging him with being a felon ... May 29, 2021

Sex-trafficking trial delay OK'd A Cross County man facing a possible life sentence in a sex-trafficking case successfully argued to have his jury trial, scheduled to begin Friday, delayed until October to give him time to make a ful... May 29, 2021

Suit filed over petition-limiting law Thursday marked the third day in a row that legislation passed earlier this year by the Arkansas General Assembly has been challenged in U.S. District Court in Little Rock by opponents seeking to bloc... May 28, 2021

Drug defendant gets 3 years for lesser crime LITTLE ROCK -- A Pope County man indicted in 2017 as part of a major drug trafficking ring operated by the white-supremacist gang New Aryan Empire was sentenced in federal court Thursday to three year... May 28, 2021

ACLU sues to halt state abortion ban; law to be nation’s most restrictive An anticipated legal challenge to the most restrictive abortion law in the nation was filed Wednesday in federal court in Little Rock by the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas, seeking to prev... May 27, 2021

Defendant gets nearly 10 years for drug dealing A Little Rock man who broke down in tears while explaining himself to a federal judge Wednesday was sentenced to nearly 10 years in a federal prison after pleading guilty in August to one count of con... May 27, 2021

ACLU sues to block new transgender law A lawsuit challenging Arkansas' one-of-its-kind ban on gender-affirming medical treatment for transgender youths was filed Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Little Rock. The American Civil Libert... May 26, 2021

Man pleads guilty to firearms charge A Sherwood man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to possessing an unregistered firearm, but he denied the circumstances that led to his arrest and said he didn't know that possession of the fire... May 26, 2021

Jonesboro man resolves drug case with plea deal The federal jury trial of a reputed Crips gang member was abruptly aborted Monday at the Richard Sheppard Arnold Federal Courthouse in Little Rock when the defendant decided at the last minute to plea... May 25, 2021

Gavel falls on virus: Federal jury trials to resume Monday Resumption of jury trials in the Eastern District of Arkansas begins Monday and is expected to ramp up activity at the federal courthouse in Little Rock to levels not seen since the pandemic forced su... May 23, 2021

Ex-school aide back in court in child porn case LITTLE ROCK --A teacher's assistant at a preschool and elementary school appeared Thursday in federal court on a charge of production of child pornography just two days after he was released on bond o... May 21, 2021

Guilty of roles in drug ring, say Jonesboro pair Two defendants set for trial Monday as part of a drug trafficking ring in northeast Arkansas pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court, leaving only one defendant to face a jury on a multicount indictm... May 21, 2021

Pope County man indicted in '17 drug case pleads guilty A Pope County man who was one of 54 people indicted in the 2017 investigation into drug trafficking and violence on the part of a white supremacist gang is facing possible life in prison after pleadin... May 21, 2021

Ex-leader for gang sentenced to 35 years The former head of a Pope County-based white supremacist organization who was accused of leading a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking operation was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison Wednesd... May 20, 2021

Woman given prison ahead of drug trial A Vilonia woman awaiting trial on drug conspiracy charges in federal court appeared Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker for a hearing regarding the revocation of her supervised release a... May 20, 2021

Sex-trafficking trial's testimony set to wrap up Following two days of testimony in the trial of Anthony Atkins, charged in federal court with sex trafficking of a minor, defense attorneys are expected to rest their case this morning and put their c... May 14, 2021

Trafficking trial starts in Little Rock; officer tells about 'date' The U.S. government's case against a Little Rock man on trial on charges of sex trafficking a minor proceeded at a brisk pace after opening arguments Wednesday morning at the federal courthouse in Lit... May 13, 2021

Jury selection finishes in sex-trafficking trial A Little Rock man arrested in July 2018 and charged by a federal grand jury with sex trafficking of a minor was in court Tuesday for what is expected to be a three- to four-day jury trial. Anthony At... May 12, 2021

2 plead guilty in benefits scam Two White County women indicted in 2018 in a fraud conspiracy targeting unemployment benefits pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and face up to 20 y... May 12, 2021

Two plead guilty in benefits scam LITTLE ROCK -- Two White County women indicted in 2018 in a fraud conspiracy targeting unemployment benefits pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and ... May 11, 2021

Prescription scam gets 4-year term A former high school basketball coach turned medical sales rep was sentenced in federal court Thursday to 51 months in prison for defrauding Tricare, the nation’s military health insurer, of more than... May 7, 2021

Firearms offender released by judge A Pope County man who has spent just short of two years in federal custody on pre-trial detention was ordered freed Thursday after Chief U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. ordered him sentenced... May 7, 2021

Guilty in drug ring, Eudora man says One of 15 people indicted in a Chicot County drug ring investigation, dubbed "Operation Quack Attack," pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court for his role in the conspiracy and could face up to 40 y... May 7, 2021

Sister sentenced for lie to officers A Little Rock woman who was scheduled to be sentenced in January after pleading guilty to one count of making a false statement to federal law enforcement authorities was sentenced Tuesday to three ye... May 5, 2021

Term violations return drug offender to prison A Swifton man sentenced in 2011 to eight years in federal prison for his part in a methamphetamine ring was ordered back to prison Monday for 366 days after a hearing for numerous violations of his su... May 4, 2021

Guilt admitted in drug conspiracy A Cleburne County man associated with one of three fentanyl distribution rings operating around Central Arkansas in 2018 pleaded guilty Friday to a federal drug conspiracy charge, and faces possible s... May 1, 2021

Searcy man released pending drug trial A Searcy man arrested early last month as part of a roundup of suspected drug and firearms offenders in White County appeared Thursday before a federal magistrate judge asking to be released from jail... April 30, 2021

Toss evidence, drug case lawyers say Attorneys for a Searcy County man accused in a federal indictment of drug trafficking presented arguments Thursday attempting to suppress evidence collected during a search of his property that the at... April 30, 2021

Man gets 70-month term after plea deal in drug case A Saline County man was sentenced Wednesday to five years and 10 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker on a federal count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled subst... April 29, 2021

Drug defendant to stay in jail A Little Rock woman who was ordered jailed until her drug conspiracy case is resolved will have to remain in jail after a decision announced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker. Robin Nel... April 29, 2021

Man admits role in bank scheme A New York City man accused of working in concert with another New York man to fraudulently obtain money from several Little Rock Bank of America branches pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to co... April 29, 2021

Suspect admits robbing 1 store, trying to rob 2nd A Missouri man accused of robbing one store in Arkansas and attempting to rob another pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to one count each of robbery and brandishing a firearm, and faces up to li... April 28, 2021

Ex-union chief awaits embezzling sentence The former head of United Steelworkers Union Local 1731 -- headquartered in White Hall -- is scheduled for sentencing this summer after pleading guilty in federal court this month to stealing more tha... April 27, 2021

Judge orders meth-ring figure jailed over drug test A Swifton man convicted in 2011 and sentenced to eight years in federal prison for his part in a methamphetamine ring run by Norman Berry was ordered detained Friday after arriving late for a supervis... April 25, 2021

Ervin chosen as U.S. magistrate judge for Eastern District Chief U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. issued an administrative order on Friday announcing the selection of Edie R. Ervin as the next U.S. magistrate judge to sit on the bench in the Eastern ... April 24, 2021

Man denied pretrial release to address drug problem A White County man who was among 33 people indicted in a federal roundup of drug and firearms violators was ordered Friday to stay in jail to await trial by U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe Volpe, who ruled ... April 24, 2021

Bid to drop bribery indictment tossed; July trial set for former state Sen. Gilbert Baker A ruling Tuesday by U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. has put an end to hopes of a former state senator and chairman of the state Republican Party to avoid a trial on bribery, wire-fraud and c... April 23, 2021

Lawman who took cash in sting gets 2-year sentence A former Arkansas State Police investigator and lieutenant with the Greene County sheriff's office was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $15,200 Wednesday after pleading guilty late last year... April 23, 2021

A wasn't-me defense fails as drug plotters convicted After three days of testimony and evidence and just over three hours of deliberations, a jury of four women and eight men found James Richards and Isaac May guilty on all counts of a 2018 drug-conspir... April 22, 2021

Quapaw ex-official charged in embezzlement case John L. Berrey, former chairman of the Quapaw Business Committee, who is credited with building Saracen Casino in Pine Bluff and shepherding the amendment authorizing casino gambling in Arkansas throu... April 20, 2021

Trial starts for pair in drug case Two men accused in 2018 of being part of a cocaine and marijuana trafficking organization went on trial Monday in the first federal criminal jury trial of 2021 in the Eastern District of Arkansas befo... April 20, 2021