United States Drug Enforcement Administration

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. sentenced William Arthur (36, Jacksonville) today to life in federal prison for aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. Vanholten was found guilty by a federal jury on August 2, 2012.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Vanholten organized a trip to South Florida to obtain 10 kilograms of cocaine.  The cocaine was intended for redistribution in Jacksonville.  Vanholten hired a female driver to travel in tandem with him, in a separate vehicle, to transport the drugs.  As Vanholten and his accomplice arrived in Duval County, Florida, patrol officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff's (JSO) initiated traffic stops on both vehicles.  Ten kilograms of cocaine were recovered from inside the trunk of the vehicle driven by the female driver.  The street value of that cocaine was valued in excess of $330,000.  Approximately $1,900 was recovered from the vehicle driven by Vanholten.

Vanholten was previously convicted of a drug violation in federal court.  In 2006, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
            
This case was investigated by the DEA Jacksonville District Office and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.