EL DORADO, ARKANSAS – In a major blow to the methamphetamine trade, Willis Devin Johnson, 36, of Mountain Home, Arkansas, and his accomplice, Sarah Lavon Paxton, 37, of Mountain Home, Arkansas, were sentenced to a combined total of 308 months in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking and related crimes.
The sentencing hearings took place in the United States District Court in El Dorado, with the Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presiding over the cases.
According to court records, on August 24, 2023, Johnson and Paxton were located in a vehicle at a local car wash in Bearden, Arkansas. Agents with the El Dorado Police Department, CAD, and the 13th Judicial Drug Task Force had received information that Johnson was attempting to sell several ounces of methamphetamine.
Johnson and Paxton were taken into custody and a search of the vehicle revealed three vacuum sealed bags containing 1,400 grams of methamphetamine.
Johnson pleaded guilty to Possession of More than 500 Grams of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute on August 22, 2024, while Paxton pleaded guilty to the same charge on September 11, 2024.
For their crimes, Johnson was sentenced on January 15, 2025 to 188 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Paxton was sentenced on January 14, 2025 to 120 months in federal prison, also followed by five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes made the announcement, which was the result of a joint investigation by the El Dorado Police Department, CAD, and the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case for the United States.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
Related Federal Cases
- Eddie Bonner, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Arkansas 2024 · Arkansas
- Eddie Dean McBride Jr., Methamphetamine Trafficking, Arkansas 2019 · Arkansas
- Arther James, Methamphetamine Trafficking, NE Arkansas, 2023 · Kansas
- John Mullens, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Arkansas 2017 · Arkansas
- Trevor Dean Meeker, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Arkansas 2024 · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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