Springdale Man Sentenced to 65 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

            Fayetteville, Arkansas - Kenneth Elser, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Jose Maria Calderon, age 48 of Springdale, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 65 months in federal prison followed by three (3) years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams of More of Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.

            According to the Plea Agreement, on two separate occasions between November, 2015 and March, 2016, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Springdale Narcotics Unit conducted two controlled buys with an intermediary for Calderon in which over 10 grams was delivered by the intermediary to a confidential source.  During the incidents, Calderon would arrive at the public location and make contact with the intermediary but not receive funds nor directly distribute methamphetamine to the confidential source.  Subsequently investigators issued a search warrant on Calderon’s address in Springdale.  When officers arrived, Calderon was searched and found to have $783 in cash and two cell phones on his person.  He was informed of his Miranda rights and agreed to cooperate and led officers to a large quantity of methamphetamine concealed inside a lampshade.  He admitted that during the past year he had been receiving methamphetamine each month. In addition to methamphetamine, officers found 1.14 grams of cocaine, $15,699 in U.S. currency, digital scales, packaging materials, a heat sealer, and wire transfer receipts. The suspected methamphetamine was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab where it was determined to be 294 grams of actual methamphetamine.  The suspected cocaine was also tested and confirmed to be 1.4 grams of a mixture or substance containing cocaine. 

            Calderon was indicted by a federal grand jury in May, 2016 and pleaded guilty in July, 2016.

            “Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug and one of the most destructive drugs we face today.  DEA and our law enforcement partners are working hard to thwart the threat of methamphetamine distribution and abuse here in the Western District of Arkansas,” stated DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matthew Barden.  “We have successfully collaborated in order to put this drug dealer in federal prison as a result of his desire to supply the citizens in Springdale with methamphetamine.”

            The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Springdale Narcotics Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Amy Driver 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