United States Drug Enforcement Administration

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Drug Enforcement (DEA)  Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Downing and Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Suzanne Hathorn, age 54, of Siloam Springs, was sentenced to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Michael Stanfill, age 43 of Highfill, was sentenced to 46 months in prison and one year of supervised release for Use of a Communication Device to Distribute Methamphetamine; Davna Hoepfner, age 37, of Siloam Springs, was sentenced to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; Lee Roy Creekmore, age 54, of Siloam Springs, was sentenced to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; Alex Fernandez, age 41, of Colcord, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and one year of supervised release for Use of a Communication Device to Distribute Methamphetamine; Ricardo Clemente Ruiz, age 42, of Siloam Springs, was sentenced to 136 months in prison and five years of supervised release for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; The sentencing hearings took place before the Honorable Timothy L. Brooks in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.  

“The distribution of methamphetamine is the distribution of poison,” stated DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Downing.  “The prosecution and sentencing of these defendants is evidence of a successful drug law enforcement partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA.  We are committed to cleaning out the poison in our communities.  The communities in the Western District of Arkansas are safer and can rest better with members of this vicious organization behind bars,” said Downing.

U.S. Attorney Eldridge commented, “The sentences handed down this week in this large scale drug trafficking case represent significant prison time for those that brought methamphetamine onto our streets.  We must do all we can to keep children in our community safe from drugs and other illegal activity.  Our office remains committed to working together with other law enforcement agencies to ascertain that those that are responsible for this criminal conduct will be fully brought to justice.”

Ricardo Clemente Ruiz, aka Ricado Pulido-Clemente:  According to court records, as a result of an investigation into a drug trafficking operation beginning in October 2012, agents from the Drug Enforcement (DEA) determined Hathorn, Stanfill, Padilla, Hoepfner, Fernandez, and Ruiz to be suspects in conspiring to distribute large quantities of (meth) in Northwest Arkansas.  Ruiz was determined to be the leader of the organization.  Ruiz was arrested on October 21, 2013.  Agents executed a Federal Search warrant on Ruiz’s residence located near Siloam Springs where they located a large quantity of methamphetamine.  Ruiz admitted to possessing the meth with the intent to distribute it to others.  The suspected substance was sent to the Drug Enforcement Administration Crime Lab where it was determined to be approximately 654.3 grams of methamphetamine.  Agents also executed a Federal Search Warrant on a storage unit used by Ruiz.  The agents located an additional 1,467 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the storage unit.   

Co-Defendant Information: 

Suzanne Hathorn and Lee Roy Creekmore:  As a result of the investigation, agents discovered that Hathorn and Creekmore were involved with Ruiz in the distribution of meth.  Agents executed a search warrant on their residence in Siloam Springs where they recovered approximately 69.2 grams of meth.  The substance was field tested and resulted in a positive reaction for the presence of meth.  Hathorn and Creekmore were arrested on October 21, 2013.

Davna Hoepfner:  Agents learned that Hoepfner was obtaining large quantities of meth from Ruiz with the intention of distributing it.  Hoepfner was arrested at a Springdale motel and admitted to being in possession of meth. Agents recovered approximately 58.2 grams of meth from Hoepfner which was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab where it was determined to contain 19.6 grams of actual meth.  Hoepfner was arrested on October 21, 2013.

Michael Stanfill:  In September and October 2013, investigators determined that Stanfill twice used a communication device to arrange drug trafficking activities, specifically, the distribution of meth with Ruiz and others.  Stanfill was arrested October 22, 2013.

Alex Fernandez:  In September and October 2013, investigators determined that Stanfill twice used a communication device to arrange drug trafficking activities, specifically, the distribution of meth with Ruiz and others.  Fernandez was arrested October 21, 2013.

A federal grand jury indicted each of these defendants on their charges October 30, 2013, and each pleaded guilty in April, 2014.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U. S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes prosecuted the cases for the United States.

Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.