Hot Springs Meth Dealer Gets Nine Years

HOT SPRINGS, AR – Mark A. Hudson, 43, of Hot Springs, is headed to federal prison for nine years after being sentenced this week for his role in a methamphetamine distribution network. Hudson received 110 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on each count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine. The sentences will run concurrently, according to Kenneth Elser, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas.

The case dates back to August 2014, when law enforcement began investigating Hudson for heroin distribution. The investigation quickly expanded to include methamphetamine. Agents utilized a confidential source who successfully completed at least six controlled purchases of heroin from Hudson in Hot Springs, exchanging cash for the drugs. In November 2014, the source procured 4.2 grams of actual methamphetamine from Hudson for $200 – a quarter ounce of the highly addictive substance. The material was confirmed by the Drug Enforcement Administration South Central Laboratory.

Hudson was indicted by a federal jury in July 2015 and ultimately pleaded guilty in February 2016. The investigation wasn’t a solo operation; Hudson’s co-defendant, Titus D. Denton, 33, of Benton, already received a 60-month federal prison sentence and three years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin back in July 2016. Denton’s sentencing preceded Hudson’s, demonstrating a coordinated takedown of the drug operation.

“We will continue to attack the scourge of methamphetamine and heroin distribution in Arkansas and beyond,” stated DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matthew Barden. “The sentencing of Mark Hudson should send a message to those who want to sell drugs. We are going to catch you and put you in federal prison if you distribute this poison in our communities.” Barden’s statement underscores the DEA’s commitment to dismantling drug networks in the region.

The successful prosecution was a collaborative effort, involving the Drug Enforcement Administration, the 18th Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Hot Springs Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Candace Taylor led the prosecution for the United States. The combined resources of these agencies brought Hudson to justice, removing a significant player in the local drug trade.

The Honorable Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Hot Springs. Those seeking further details about the case can access related court documents on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov. Grimy Times will continue to monitor federal drug trafficking cases across the nation, bringing you the unvarnished truth about crime and justice.

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