United States Drug Enforcement Administration

LITTLE ROCK—Roy Edsel Heifner, Jr., classified as an armed career criminal based on his multiple prior convictions, will spend 15 years in federal prison for his involvement in the distribution of controlled substances, including fentanyl, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Monday by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky.

On February 4, 2020, Heifner, 76, of College Station, Arkansas, was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In a superseding indictment filed on February 7, 2023, Heifner was charged with six counts related to the distribution of Schedule II substances, including fentanyl and oxycodone, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

At the conclusion of a jury trial on March 1, 2023, the federal jury found Heifner guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl and oxycodone, as well as two counts possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and oxycodone, and of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the 180-month sentence, Judge Rudofsky sentenced Heifner to serve three years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

On September 3, 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information Heifner was distributing various types of prescription medication from his residence located in College Station. An investigation into Heifner’s background revealed that he was a convicted felon with numerous arrests. On October 17, 2019, a search warrant was executed at Heifner’s residence where law enforcement seized over 300 pills resembling oxycodone but which were in fact fentanyl, as well as approximately 100 pills that were confirmed to be oxycodone and hydrocodone. Law enforcement also seized two firearms and more than $300,000 in United States currency believed to be drug proceeds during the search of Heifner’s residence.

After Heifner was first indicted on February 4, 2020, he was released on bond. While on bond, an investigation revealed that he continued to sell pills. In July 2021, law enforcement made controlled purchases of pills from Heifner at his residence, and while again the pills appeared to be oxycodone, they were confirmed as fentanyl. Heifner was taken back into custody and remained detained until his trial. 

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Arkansas State Police, Saline County Sheriff’s Office, and the Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anne Gardner and Reese Lancaster.