An investigation known as “Operation Shaw-Crank Redemption” resulted in 49 individuals being arrested on suspicion of drug-trafficking, and 11 of those individuals were from either Arkansas or Oklahoma, according to a news release.
The 11 individuals arrested face a combined total of over 93 years in prison, according to a news release from Conner Eldridge, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas.
The large-scale drug-trafficking organization was active in the Fort Smith area.
U. S. Attorney Eldridge stated, “The sentences handed down in this case, represent significant prison time for large-scale drug-traffickers that brought methamphetamine and crime onto our streets. We must do all we can to keep children in our community safe from drugs and other illegal activity.”
He continued, “I thank the dedicated members of local, state, and federal law enforcement who have worked together to make certain that these defendants were brought to justice. Our office remains committed to seeing that each and every defendant involved in this case is held responsible for his or her criminal conduct.”
Starting in August, 2012, authorities began to look into the drug trafficking of Gerardo Gamboa, also known as “Tio.” Gamboa was the head of this organization and was bringing in and selling pound quantities of methamphetamine in the River Valley area, according to the release.
Due to the large scale of the investigation, it was designated an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation. The investigation resulted in a total of 49 arrests and prosecutions, including the defendants charged as part of this organization.
The two-year investigation resulted in the seizure of 22 pounds of meth, 10 firearms, $5,000, four cars and two motorcycles valued at $25,000, according to the release.
The Arkansas and Oklahoma defendants were sentenced as follows:
- Gerardo Gamboa, 36, an illegal alien of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Gamboa received a sentencing enhancement for being the leader of the organization.
- Salvador Guerrero-Lopez, 30, an illegal alien of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced to 135 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.
- Miguel Gonzalez, 22, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Huy Tran, 34, of Fort Smith, Arkansas was sentenced to 63 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine.
- Sabrina Shepard, 25, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Michael Rouell, 37, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Curtis Atkins, 48, of Spiro, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Ana Esparza, 30, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was sentenced to 100 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Jessica Sparks, 29, of Keota, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Maria Terresa Hernandez, 41, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Abraham Jaimes, 28, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
The final defendants in this case are set to be sentenced in June, according to the news release.
