David Ely, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Arkansas 2019

David Ely Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

In a move to combat the growing opioid crisis, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Arkansas has secured a significant conviction. David Ely, a 34-year-old man from Siloam Springs, Arkansas, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Ely pleaded guilty in July 2019 to one count of Possession of More Than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Timothy L. Brooks in the United States District Court in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on April 9, 2024.

According to court records, investigators received information in April 2019 that Ely was in route from Siloam Springs, Arkansas to Fayetteville, Arkansas in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine. During a search incident to Ely's arrest, officers located a duffle bag behind the passenger's seat that contained 13 bags of methamphetamine, each weighing just over one ounce, a bag of unused syringes, a digital scale, and multiple baggies.

The DEA lab results determined that the substance contained 334.7 grams of actual methamphetamine. Ely was indicted in May 2019 on federal charges and entered his guilty plea in July 2019.

This case was investigated by the 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force (JDDTF), the Washington County Sheriff's Office, and the DEA. Assistant United States Attorney Amy Driver prosecuted the case for the United States.

The sentence marks a significant victory in the ongoing fight against methamphetamine trafficking in the Western District of Arkansas. The U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to work tirelessly to hold perpetrators accountable and keep our communities safe.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdar/pr/siloam-springs-man-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-drug-trafficking