FAYETTEVILLE, AR—Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Bryan McClelland and Shellie McClelland appeared today in United States Magistrate Court for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Erin L. Setser on federal charges for drug trafficking of methamphetamine in Carroll County and surrounding areas.

In 2013, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations launched an investigation into a drug trafficking organization in Carroll County, Arkansas. Law enforcement conducted numerous controlled buys in the course of this investigation. On May 8, 2014, law enforcement executed a search warrant that resulted in the seizure of 18 firearms and over $24,000 in United States currency.

U.S. Attorney Eldridge stated, “Kids across our district deserve to grow up in communities free from trafficking in drugs and the violence and other crime that comes with it. We remain focused on identifying and prosecuting those responsible for bringing large amounts of methamphetamine and other drugs onto our streets. I appreciate the cooperative effort in this investigation between the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations Northwest Arkansas Task Force, and the FBI.”

On May 7, 2014, a federal grand jury issued a 13-count indictment charging Bryan McClelland, 50; Shellie McClelland, 50; Chad Mott, 35; Andrew Crane, 34; and Shane Stephenson, 36, with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and other related charges. The remaining defendants will be arraigned at a later date.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and state and local law enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Taylor is prosecuting the case for the United States.

The charges in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless or until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.