Man Sentenced To Over 10 Years For Drug-Trafficking With Unlawful Use Of A Firearm
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, along with Acting Special Agent in Charge Joseph W. Shepherd announced that Ulices Quintero-Patino, 30, of Mexico, was sentenced on one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of using a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. Quintero-Patino was sentenced to 130 months imprisonment with three years of supervised release. The sentencing took place before the Honorable Jimm Larry Hendren in the United States District Court in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
U.S. Attorney Eldridge commented, “As a result of the diligence of this investigation, the dangerous illegal activity has been disrupted, and we have taken a large step forward in making the community a safer place. For this reason, we remain vigilant in investigating and prosecuting drug-trafficking crimes, including those involving firearms, across the Western District of Arkansas.”
According to court records, on January 2, 2013, officers from the Springdale Police Department Crime Suppression Unit were conducting surveillance of a motel room in Springdale, Arkansas pursuant to an ongoing investigation. They observed Quintero-Patino enter the motel room for approximately 20 minutes and drive off in his vehicle. The officers followed his vehicle and conducted a routine traffic stop for careless driving. During the traffic stop, the officers observed Quintero-Patino acting nervously and asked for and received permission to perform a pat down of his person for officer safety at which point they discovered $4,500 cash on him. The officers then received consent to search his vehicle and found additional cash, numerous rounds of ammunition, a pistol, and 50 grams of methamphetamine inside it.
This case was investigated by the Springdale Police Department Crime Suppression Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case 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.
