Hot Springs Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

            Hot Springs, Arkansas - Kenneth Elser, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Mark A. Hudson, age 43 of Hot Springs, was sentenced this week to 110 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on each count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine. The sentences are to run concurrent with each other. The Honorable Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.

            According to court records, in August 2014, law enforcement began investigating Mark Hudson for the distribution of heroin. Agents used a confidential source to arrange for and conduct at least six controlled purchases of heroin from Hudson in Hot Springs exchanging funds for the purchase of the heroin. In November 2014, the confidential source exchanged $200 for a quarter of an ounce of methamphetamine from Hudson. The suspected substance sent to the Drug Enforcement Administration South Central Laboratory and was determined to be 4.2 grams of actual methamphetamine. Hudson was indicted by a federal jury in July 2015 and pleaded guilty in February 2016.

            Hudson’s co-defendant, Titus D. Denton, age 33, of Benton, was sentenced on July 29, 2016 to 60 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin.

            “We will continue to attack the scourge of methamphetamine and heroin distribution in Arkansas and beyond,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matthew Barden. “The sentencing of Mark Hudson should send a message to those who want to sell drugs. We are going to catch you and put you in federal prison if you distribute this poison in our communities. ”

            The Drug Enforcement Administration, 18^th Judicial Drug Task Force, and Hot Springs Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Candace Taylor prosecuted the case for the United States.

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