LITTLE ROCK, AR – Karen Hoskins, 63, of Sherwood, Arkansas, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 15 months for money laundering. The sentence was handed down today by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker, following a protracted investigation into a methamphetamine distribution ring and Hoskins’ role in shielding her son from the law.
The case originated with the February 3, 2021, indictment of Brian Jeffrey Litton and eight others on charges related to methamphetamine distribution. Litton, Hoskins’ son, was initially released to home detention, but quickly vanished, failing to report to probation officers or his attorney. A warrant was issued, and Litton became a fugitive. Hoskins, despite claiming ignorance of her son’s whereabouts, turned in his electronic monitoring equipment, falsely stating he had removed it and was missing.
Investigators soon discovered Hoskins wasn’t just covering for her son – she was actively enabling his criminal enterprise. Evidence, including text messages, revealed she knew Litton’s location as early as July 2021 and deliberately concealed him from law enforcement. She met him in a remote wooded area of Pulaski County, providing aid and comfort while he evaded capture. But the assistance didn’t stop at harboring a fugitive.
Between 2020 and 2021, Hoskins engaged in a systematic money laundering scheme with Litton. She received between $2,000 and $5,000 in cash weekly – dirty money earned from her son’s drug trafficking. Hoskins knowingly concealed these drug proceeds at her home, shielding them from seizure. Litton would then retrieve the cash to fund his methamphetamine purchases, distributing the drug throughout central Arkansas. She even used the illicit funds to cover his living expenses, paying bills with the proceeds of his crimes.
The greed didn’t stop there. Hoskins squandered over $150,000 in drug money on a gambling habit, turning a blind eye to the devastation wrought by her son’s drug dealing. She was initially charged with harboring a fugitive, then with conspiracy to money launder and five counts of money laundering via a Second Superseding Indictment on July 6, 2022. Hoskins ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering on August 14, 2023.
In addition to the 15-month prison sentence, Chief Judge Baker ordered Hoskins to serve two years of supervised release and pay a $200,000 money judgment. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, highlighting the collaborative effort of federal, state, and local agencies to dismantle criminal networks. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anne Gardner. There is no parole in the federal system.
Related Federal Cases
- Marijuana Money Man ‘Max’ Anderson Admits to Laundering Millions · Connecticut
- Medina-Leyva Sentenced to Ten Years for Methamphetamine and Money Laundering · Arkansas
- Springdale Drug Kingpin Sentenced to Over Five Years in Meth Case · Arkansas
- Nicholas Smith, Steven Brown Sentenced in Hot Springs Drug, Gun Case · Arkansas
- TX Drug Kingpin Sentenced to 57 Months · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
