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August 26, 2016Hot Springs, AR, United StatesNarcotics

Arkansas man sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug trafficking

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A Hot Springs man was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The sentencing follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the 18th East Judicial Drug Task Force.

Cedric Easter, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan O. Hickey on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Easter also received three years of supervised release.

“Removing drugs and weapons from our communities makes them safer and will remain one of our top priorities”, said Special Agent in Charge of HSI New Orleans Raymond R. Parmer, Jr.  “Together with our law enforcement partners we will continue to target these criminal elements.”

Parmer oversees a five-state area of operations to include Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

According to Easter’s July 31, 2015, guilty plea, agents with HSI and detectives from the 18th East Judicial Drug Task Force began investigating Easter for selling methamphetamine in the Hot Springs area. In June 2014 officers executed a state search warrant at a residence in Hot Springs and recovered documents associated with Easter as well as a large amount of U.S. currency and a 9mm pistol.

Investigators also reviewed numerous phone records which showed text messages discussing drug amounts between Easter and others dating back to March 2014.

Between July 2014 and December 2014, agents made four controlled buys of methamphetamine from Easter. Subsequent to the last controlled buy, agents executed a search warrant at Easter’s residence where he was located and arrested. During the search agents located and seized marijuana, a 9mm pistol and $5,560 in cash. Agents also executed a search warrant at Easter’s neighbor’s residence based on information that Easter was keeping drugs at the residence. Approximately four ounces of methamphetamine and $9,000 were discovered by the agents.

During a post-Miranda statement, Easter admitted to selling methamphetamine with others and admitted the drugs and money found at the neighbor’s residence belonged to him. He also admitted he knew about the two firearms seized during the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Harris prosecuted the case on behalf of U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas Kenneth Elser.

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