Sherman and Smith, Conspiracy to Cause Witness Tampering, Arkansas 2021

Life Behind Bars for Two Arkansas Men in Witness Tampering Case

Two drug dealers will spend the remainder of their lives in prison after conspiring to cause witness tampering resulting in death. Samuel ‘Big Hit’ Sherman, 38, of Batesville, and Donald Bill Smith, 38, of Malvern, were both sentenced today to life in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Chief District Judge D. P. Marshall, Jr., imposed the sentences. Smith and Sherman were indicted in September 2019 in connection with the death of Susan Cooper, who had bought methamphetamine from Sherman but had begun working as an informant for law enforcement.

Smith and Sherman were convicted of conspiracy to cause witness tampering resulting in death. Smith was also convicted of witness tampering resulting in death, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine, and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Smith, in addition to his life sentence, was ordered to serve a 50-year consecutive sentence.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anne Gardner and Bart Dickinson.

The evidence presented at trial showed that upon learning Sherman was facing a significant federal prison sentence, he called Smith. Smith drove from Malvern to Batesville, where Sherman lived, and stayed in Batesville for approximately 40 minutes before returning to Malvern. On the way back to Malvern, Smith called Rachael, Susan’s sister-in-law, who had been communicating with Susan about making arrangements for Susan to trade some hydrocodone pills for methamphetamine.

Rachael testified at trial that as they waited, she heard a gunshot followed by Susan crying out ‘I’m shot—get me out of here!’ Rachael jumped in the driver’s seat and saw Smith shoot Susan several more times. Smith pulled Susan from the truck as Rachael sped away. Susan’s body was not found for a year and a half, until a witness came forward to disclose Smith had demanded he help bury the body.

Defendant/Respondent: Samuel ‘Big Hit’ Sherman and Donald Bill Smith (Exact criminal charges: Conspiracy to cause witness tampering resulting in death, Witness tampering resulting in death, Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine, Aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime) City and state: Batesville, Arkansas; Malvern, Arkansas Date: September 2019 (indicted), September 2021 (sentenced) Sentence or outcome: Life in federal prison with no parole, 50-year consecutive sentence for Donald Bill Smith.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime

Harry Keith Dwyan Goffney, Hobbs Act Robbery and Firearm Trafficking, Texas 2024

Apr 14, 2025

Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime

Robert Battle, Murder, Cocaine Conspiracy, and Money Laundering, Indiana 2015

Nov 12, 2015

Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime

Kenneth Bingell, Heroin and Fentanyl Distribution, Connecticut 2021

Oct 29, 2021

Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime

David Allen Young, Carjacking, Drug Trafficking, West Virginia 2016

Jun 20, 2016