Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to More Than 44 Years Combined in Federal Prison

HOT SPRINGS – A Hot Springs drug trafficking organization was sentenced today to federal prison for crimes related to the Distribution of Methamphetamine. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court in Hot Springs.

According to court documents, in 2020, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating a drug trafficking organization operating within the Western District of Arkansas, Hot Springs Division. During the course of their investigation, investigators identified Jose Luis Aguilar as the leader of this group. Jose Luis Aguilar regularly supplied narcotics to multiple dealers in the Hot Springs area between July 29, 2020, through at least September 25, 2020.

Those members of the drug trafficking organization indicted federally have been sentenced as follows:

Jose Luis Aguilar: age 61, Houston, Texas – one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Aiding and Abetting in the Possession with the Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of a Mixture or Substance Containing Methamphetamine – 235 months imprisonment and 5-year term of supervised release.

Eric Alexi Aguilar: age 25, Houston, Texas – one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Aiding and Abetting in the Possession with the Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of a Mixture or Substance Containing Methamphetamine – 120 months imprisonment and 5-year term of supervised release.

James Franklin Wells, Jr:  age 60, Hot Springs, Arkansas – one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute More Than 50 Grams of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine – 180 months imprisonment and 4-year term of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations Little Rock, the Hot Springs Police Department, the 18^th East Judicial District Drug Task Force and the Garland County Prosecutors Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Achorn and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case.