Little Rock methamphetamine ring leader sentenced to over 16 years in federal prison

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A Little Rock man will spend more than 16 years in federal prison for being one of the leaders of a large-scale methamphetamine ring.

Brian I. Wilson, 37, along with 36-year-old Adan Mendoza of Dallas, received a 200-month sentence in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

The two had pleaded guilty in March to their part of a 20-count nine-defendant indictment returned by a federal grand jury in 2022.

As part of their plea, each man was held responsible for distributing 5-15 kilograms of methamphetamine, which carries a 10-year minimum sentence under federal law.

Each man was also assigned five years of supervised release after completing their prison term. There is no parole in the federal prison system.

The investigation into Wilson began with officials spotting him meeting with Mendoza in Dallas in 2021. Mendoza had been under investigation since 2019, officials said.

During the investigation, investigators said a confidential informant purchased a kilogram of methamphetamine from Wilson on two different occasions.

In February 2022, investigators also seized five kilograms of methamphetamine and one kilogram of cocaine from Wilson as he was returning from a trip to Dallas.

DEA officials said the agency investigated with assistance from the Arkansas State Police, North Little Rock Police Department, Little Rock Police Department, Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office and Arkansas Community Correction.

from KARK https://ift.tt/bUjq7Xd