Brookland, AR – Contributed – Rickey Allen Brown was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence which was handed down Thursday by United States District Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr.

On May 2, 2025, a Superseding Information was filed charging Brown, 56, of Brookland, with one count of distribution of 50 grams or more, but less than 500 grams, of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more, but less than 500 grams, of methamphetamine.

On that same day the Superseding Information was filed, Brown pleaded guilty to the Superseding Information. Judge Marshall also sentenced Brown to five years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

An investigation revealed that on Dec. 27, 2021, a confidential informant (CI) conducted a controlled buy of two bags of methamphetamine from Brown at his residence in Brookland.

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The CI, in exchange for over 50 grams of methamphetamine, paid Brown $700 and provided the methamphetamine to law enforcement officers. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Laboratory confirmed the purity of the methamphetamine at 100%.

On Jan. 27, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted surveillance on a known drug house. During the surveillance, officers observed a Kia Optima pull up and park on the street outside the residence with Brown exiting the vehicle and entering the residence.

Brown briefly remained in the residence and when he exited to get in his vehicle, was observed walking as though he was attempting to conceal an item. Once Brown drove away, officers conducted a traffic stop after observing Brown committing traffic violations.

While talking to Brown, officers observed him sweating profusely and his hands were shaking, and officers smelled marijuana. During a search, officers located two bags of methamphetamine in Brown’s pocket. When officers searched Brown’s vehicle, they located a canvas bag underneath the driver’s seat that contained close to 110 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine.

Brown’s criminal history includes convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use, second degree stalking, manufacture of methamphetamine, domestic battery third degree, first degree assault, second degree assault on family or household member, and terroristic threatening.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.

Through interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs U.S. law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.

The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Little Rock comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Arkansas State Police, Second Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Second Judicial Drug Task Force, Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, and the Arkansas State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary.

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