Drug Trafficker sentenced to 260 Months
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 11, 2011 |
Hot Springs, Arkansas - Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas announced today that Paul T. Odom, age 45, of Hickory, Kentucky, was sentenced to 260 months imprisonment, five years supervised release, a $5,000 fine and a $200 special assessment. Odom was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. United States District Judge Robert T. Dawson imposed the sentence in United States District Court in Fort Smith, Arkansas. On April 11, 2011, the defendant had pleaded guilty to the two charges.
“This case demonstrates that those who repeatedly engage in drug trafficking activity will be vigorously prosecuted," said Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. “Both defendants in this case received lengthy terms in federal prison. We will continue to aggressively pursue career criminals who traffic in drugs and possess guns in furtherance of such crimes."
On March 29, 2010, Corporal Victor Coleman with the Arkansas State Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Interstate 30 in Clark County, Arkansas. The vehicle was occupied by Michael Snell and driven by the defendant, Paul T. Odom. During a search of the back cargo area of the vehicle, Corporal Coleman located a false compartment in the bottom of an aerosol-type can, and subsequently located methamphetamine inside. Additional methamphetamine was located inside duffel bags and other containers found in the rear compartment of the vehicle, for a total of approximately 474 grams, more than a pound. Also located within the vehicle were two handguns. The defendant had three prior convictions for drug trafficking offenses.
On July 5, 2011, his co-defendant, Michael Snell was sentenced to 260 months in the Bureau of Prisons, followed by five years of supervised release, a $5,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Arkansas State Police and Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Wilson prosecuted the case for the United States.
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