Fort Smith Meth Dealer Gets 8 Years Federal Time

FORT SMITH, AR – A Fort Smith man is headed to federal prison for a substantial stretch after a 2016 raid uncovered a significant methamphetamine operation. Mohammed Abed Joudeh, II, age 28, was sentenced today to 100 months in federal prison to run concurrent with any undischarged state sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, on one count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The sentencing was handed down by Chief Judge P. K. Holmes, III in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.

The bust originated with a routine parole check on July 12, 2016. Fort Smith police, assisting Arkansas Parole officers, searched the residence shared by Joudeh and his mother. Officers quickly located approximately three grams of methamphetamine stashed within an air vent in Joudeh’s bedroom. But the initial find was just the tip of the iceberg.

While securing Joudeh, he reportedly expressed concern about his mother being implicated, then shockingly revealed a larger cache hidden under her bed: three ounces of methamphetamine and a loaded .38 caliber revolver. A subsequent search uncovered a safe containing approximately 156 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales used for weighing the drugs, and $100 in cash. The operation wasn’t confined to the bedroom either.

Officers discovered $4,243 banded into $1,000 increments tucked into the chair where Joudeh had been sitting. A drug ledger detailing transactions with initials and corresponding dollar amounts was also seized, alongside another set of digital scales and two additional loaded .38 caliber magazines. The evidence painted a clear picture of a deliberate and ongoing drug trafficking operation.

Mohammed Joudeh was indicted federally in August of 2016 and entered a guilty plea to the charge in October of the same year. He now faces a lengthy prison term for his role in flooding the streets with methamphetamine.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Fort Smith Police Department and the Arkansas Department of Probation and Parole. Assistant United States Attorney Candace Taylor successfully prosecuted the case for the United States Attorney’s Office. This case serves as a harsh reminder that those involved in drug trafficking will face serious consequences, particularly when firearms are involved.

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