Fort Smith Career Offender Sentenced To Over 10 Years In Prison For Distribution Of Methamphetamine

Fort Smith, Arkansas - Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Joe Gordon, age 30, of Fort Smith, was sentenced today to 130 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for the Distribution of Methamphetamine. The Honorable P. K. Holmes, III presided over the sentencing in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.

U.S. Attorney Eldridge commented, “Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to rid our communities of those who choose to participate in the trafficking of illegal narcotics. As a career offender, this defendant’s actions displayed a lack of respect for law enforcement and his fellow citizens. His history of committing crimes merited the lengthy sentence that he received, and his removal from our community will make the Western District of Arkansas a safer place.”

“Today’s sentencing closes the door on a career criminal who felt untouchable and beyond the reach of aggressive, cooperative law enforcement,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Downing. "DEA and our law enforcement partners stand firmly to ensure that criminals who peddle in these poisons and wreak havoc in our communities will never escape from facing the consequences of their criminal activities.”

According to court records, on May 29, 2014, officers with the Fort Smith Police Department arranged for a controlled drug transaction with Joe Gordon at a local place of business in Fort Smith. During the transaction, Gordon provided what he represented to be methamphetamine in exchange for U.S. currency. Following the transaction, officers sent the recovered substance to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory where it tested positive for methamphetamine. Since this instant offense of conviction is a felony that is a controlled substance offense and Gordon has at least two prior felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense, he is a Career Offender. Gordon pleaded guilty to the charge on October 16, 2014.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Fort Smith Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Clay Fowlkes prosecuted the case for the United States.

* * * E N D * * *

Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov