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 three men were sentenced today in Northwest Arkansas to a total of 31 ½ years in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine.  United States District Court Judge Timothy L. Brooks handed down the sentences in federal court in Fayetteville.

“The successful prosecution of these three defendants should put others who engage in this type of activity on notice:  if you sell drugs you will face federal charges and a lengthy prison sentence. These career offenders’ sentences in federal prison send a message of our unending resolve to pursue drug traffickers who wreak havoc in our communities,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Downing.

U. S. Attorney Eldridge commented, “The fact that all three of these defendants have been previously convicted of felony drug offenses, and that two of them are “career offenders”, shows a flagrant disrespect for the law. Drug trafficking represents a tremendous problem in our communities by bringing crime and violence onto our streets and by exposing our kids to serious risks. The sentences pronounced today shows that my office and state and federal law enforcement will remain focused on identifying and prosecuting those who commit these crimes.”

According to court records, investigators with the DEA were conducting an ongoing narcotics investigation in which they had determined 40 year old George Robert of Springdale to be a suspect.  Between on or about November 14, 2013 and December 13, 2013, law enforcement agents arranged three controlled purchases of approximately one ounce of methamphetamine from the defendant, George Robert. These three controlled purchases took place in Fayetteville and Springdale, Arkansas. At the sentencing today, the court ruled that Robert was a “career offender” under federal sentencing guidelines because of his previous criminal convictions in 2001 for Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute Methamphetamine and in 2007 for Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine. Robert was sentenced to 151 months imprisonment followed by three years supervised release.

Agents from the DEA and the Springdale Police Department began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of 47 year old Francisco Javier Galvan in the fall of 2013.  The agents identified Galvan as a methamphetamine source of supply who resided in Little Rock and had been traveling to Northwest Arkansas to distribute methamphetamine.  The DEA, through a confidential informant, purchased approximately five ounces of methamphetamine from Galvan in three controlled transactions. On January 22, 2014, an Arkansas State Police Trooper stopped Galvan heading westbound on I-40 near the Johnson-Pope County Line. A search of his vehicle resulted in the recovery of approximately one pound of methamphetamine. On March 6, 2014, Galvan entered a plea of guilty to one count of the distribution of methamphetamine. At the sentencing today, the court ruled that Galvan was a “career offender” under federal guidelines. Galvan was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.
 
On December 13, 2013, the DEA, acting on a tip from an informant, executed a search warrant on 30 year old Rafael Silva’s Springdale residence.  Inside, investigators located approximately a quarter of a pound of methamphetamine which was packaged in a manner consistent with being offered for future sale. Silva was also in possession of a handgun, ammunition, a bullet proof vest and $5,437 in cash. Upon being interviewed by agents of the DEA, Silva admitted all of the methamphetamine in the residence belonged to him and that confirmed that he was in the business of selling methamphetamine. On February 28, 2014, Silva entered a plea of guilty. Although not a career offender, Silva is a previous felon.   Silva was sentenced to 108 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. The $5,437 in cash and the handgun were forfeited to the United States. 

The cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Taylor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Carter 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.