Hot Springs Woman Sentenced to more than 19 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

HOT SPRINGS - A Hot Springs woman was sentenced yesterday to 235 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of More Than 50 Grams of Actual Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.

According to court documents, beginning in April of 2021 and into May of 2021, Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted two (2) separate controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Melissa Kay Lane, age 46, in the Western District of Arkansas, Hot Springs Division. The suspected methamphetamine from both controlled purchases was submitted to the DEA Southeast Laboratory and determined to be a total of 219.13 grams, or approximately 8 ounces, of pure methamphetamine.

In September of 2021, Lane was arrested on outstanding drug warrants issued by the State of Texas.  Subsequent to her arrest, it was determined that Lane was in possession of over seven (7) kilograms, or approximately 15.5 pounds, of methamphetamine at her residence. 

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case with assistance from the Hot Springs Police Department and the 18^th East Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Achorn prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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