July 9, 2014

Texarkana Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years for Distributing Methamphetamine

TEXARKANA, AR—Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Marcus Floyd, aka “Fifty”, was sentenced today for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Floyd, age 44, of Texarkana, Arkansas, was determined to be a career offender and was sentenced to 140 months in prison with three years of supervised release. United States District Court Judge Susan O. Hickey handed down the sentence in federal court in Texarkana.

U.S. Attorney Eldridge commented, “This case shows that my office and state and federal law enforcement remain focused on drug trafficking in South Arkansas and throughout the Western District. Drug trafficking organizations represent a tremendous problem in our communities by bringing crime and violence onto our streets and by exposing our kids to serious risks. We will remain focused on identifying and prosecuting those who commit these crimes.”

According to court records, investigators with the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force and the FBI Task Force were conducting an ongoing narcotics investigation in which they had determined Floyd to be a suspect. During surveillance of an arranged controlled purchase of methamphetamine, the investigators observed Floyd drop a plastic bag containing suspected methamphetamine on the floorboard of his vehicle. Floyd was taken into custody and searched, at which time $6,000.00 in U.S. currency was found in his pocket. Floyd, after being read his Miranda Rights, admitted to receiving dealer quantities of methamphetamine from his source of supply. Floyd pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 5, 2014. At the sentencing today, the court ruled that he was a “career offender” under federal sentencing guidelines because of his previous criminal convictions in Miller County, Arkansas for Engaging in a Continuing Criminal Gang, Terroristic Act, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Aggravated Assault.

The case was investigated by the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force and the FBI Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Quinn and Jonathan Ross prosecuted the case for the United States.