7 Defendants Sentenced to Over 96 Years Combined for Drug Trafficking

Fort Smith, Arkansas – David Clay Fowlkes, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas announced that seven (7) individuals were sentenced by the United States District Court for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.  The Honorable Judge P.K. Holmes, III presided over the sentencing hearings in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.

According to court records the drug trafficking organization headed up by Cory Phillips operated primarily in Crawford and Sebastian Counties as well as Eastern Oklahoma. During 2018, the organization distributed approximately 900 pounds of methamphetamine.

Defendants in this conspiracy received the following sentences:

Megan Casey, age 28, of Fort Smith, Arkansas was sentenced February 4, 2020, to 37 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Casey was indicted in May of 2019 and entered a guilty plea in August of 2019.

Russell Alvin Hofer, age 36, of Van Buren, Arkansas was sentenced January 13, 2020, to 135 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  In April of 2019, Hofer waived his right to prosecution by federal indictment and consented to prosecution by information.   

Ryan Thomas Miller, age 38, of Pocola, Oklahoma was sentenced February 4, 2020, to 240 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.  Miller was indicted in May of 2019 and plead guilty in July of 2019. 

Christopher Franklin Murphy, age 23, of Van Buren, Arkansas was sentenced February 6, 2020, to 151 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release.  Murphy was indicted in May of 2019 and plead guilty in August of 2019.

Jarrod Michael Osborn, age 29, of Fort Smith, Arkansas was sentenced February 3, 2020, to 140 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.  Osborn was indicted in December of 2018 and entered a guilty plea in April of 2019.

Cory Jeremiah Phillips, age 36, of Uniontown, Arkansas was sentenced January 15, 2020, to 300 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.  Phillips was indicted was indicted in May of 2019 and plead guilty in August of 2019.

Quan David Phung, age 40, of Van Buren, Arkansas was sentenced February 6, 2020, to 151 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Phung was indicted in May of 2019 and entered a guilty plea in August of 2019.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Fort Smith Police Department, Van Buren Police Department, Greenwood Police Department, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office and the 12/21^st Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Candace Taylor prosecuted the case for the Western District of Arkansas.