Operation Stateline Sweep Update: Three Defendants Given Lengthy Sentences and One Defendant Pleads Guilty

TEXARKANA, AR—Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas announced today that three men were sentenced and one pled guilty as a result of charges brought during Operation Stateline Sweep, a drug trafficking investigation that took place in 2011. All four of the individuals were part of a 190-count indictment filed in September 2011 that named 66 defendants. The Honorable Susan O. Hickey presided over the cases in federal court in Texarkana, Arkansas.

United States Attorney Eldridge commented, “These sentences are the result of a continued effort to fully prosecute those defendants who were charged as a result of Operation Stateline Sweep. We continue to believe that targeting drug trafficking organizations, many selling drugs near schools and housing facilities, is essential for improving Texarkana and other communities. We remain dedicated to this effort.”

Tavaris Williams, age 28 of Texarkana, Arkansas, was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment, six years’ supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Williams originally plead guilty to distribution of cocaine base within 1000 feet of a public housing authority facility on April 27, 2012. Around December 1, 2010, Williams distributed 22.9675 grams of crack cocaine close to Pinehurst Village in Texarkana, Arkansas.

Derrian Foster, age 32 of Texarkana, Texas, was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment, eight years’ supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Foster pled guilty on August 3, 2012, to distribution of cocaine base within 1000 feet of a public housing authority facility. Around July 8, 2011, Foster, along with another individual, distributed 81.7708 grams of crack cocaine near the Ingrham Homes housing facility.

Adren Brown, age 33 of Texarkana, Texas, was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. After being indicted, Brown pled guilty on August 3, 2012 to possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. Around July 5, 2011, Brown possessed a .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol while possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute.

Roland Smith, age 25 of Texarkana, Arkansas, pled guilty to one count of the September 2011 indictment, charging possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute. Smith has been remanded to custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing. According to court documents, Smith possessed a total of 4.8518 grams of crack cocaine.

The cases were investigated by the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force, which is composed of representatives of the Texarkana, Arkansas and the Texarkana, Texas Police Departments; the Miller County Sheriff’s Office; and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Quinn is prosecuting the cases for the United States.