California Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Federal Prison For Drug Trafficking And Witness Tampering

Hot Springs, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Rasheen Murdock, age 37, of Modesto, California, was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Witness Tampering. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.

According to court records, during the course of an investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in the Western District of Arkansas in March 2016, the Eighteenth East Drug Task Force received information that Murdock and other individuals were engaged in a methamphetamine drug trafficking operation in the Hot Springs area. Based on this information, investigators were able to identify, and confirm the location of eight baggies of methamphetamine containing 231 grams of actual methamphetamine. Investigators were able to set up surveillance at this location and await the arrival of Murdock, and his co-conspirators. Once they arrived, Murdock and his co-conspirators discussed the current and future drug transactions, including the sale of methamphetamine, heroin, and other drugs. Murdock left the Hot Springs area and returned to California, where he was ultimately arrested.  In November of 2017, while awaiting trial, Murdock was housed in the same cell as one of his co-conspirators. Murdock forced the co-conspirator to write a letter to the Court and the AUSA prosecuting his case stating that Murdock was innocent of all charges.  The co-conspirator advised the Court and Jury that he felt that if he did not do what Murdock asked, there would be conflict, and that the letter Murdock had him write contained all lies.

Murdock was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2016. Murdock was found guilty, after a jury trial on April 25, 2018.

This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Eighteenth East Drug Task Force, and Arkansas State Police. Assistant United States Attorney David Harris and Kim Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.