Date: 09-18-2018

Case Style:

Case Number: 2:17-cr-20024-PKH

Judge: P. K. Holmes, III

Court: United States District Court

Plaintiff's Attorney: Candace L. Taylor and Aaron Lance Jennen

Defendant's Attorney: Aubrey Barr

Description: Fort Smith, AR - Two Fort Smith Men Sentenced To A Total Of Over 32 Years In Federal Prison For Drug Trafficking

Jose Escalante, age 36, of Fort Smith, was sentenced today to 200 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Jose Alonso Garcia, age 38, of Fort Smith, was sentenced today to 188 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine The Honorable Chief Judge P.K. Holmes, III presided over the sentencing hearings in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.

According to court records, in September of 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) learned that methamphetamine was being distributed in the Fort Smith area by Escalante. During the investigation, DEA arranged and conducted multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Escalante. During one of the transactions, Garcia drove Escalante to meet with an undercover agent and assisted with the transaction. The substance purchased was sent to the DEA South Central Laboratory for testing. The lab determined that the substance contained actual methamphetamine.

Escalante and Garcia were indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2018. Escalante entered a guilty plea in May 2018 and Garcia entered a guilty plea in April 2018.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Smith Police Department, Barling Police Department, Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office, Van Buren Police Department and the 12th/21st Judicial District Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Candace Taylor prosecuted the case for the United States.

Charge:

21:841(a)(1), 21:841(b)(1)(A)(viii) KNOWINGLY DISTRIBUTED 50 GRAMS OR MORE OF METHAMPHETAMINE, A SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
(4s)

Outcome: DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO 200 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT TO RUN CONCURRENTLY WITH ANY SENTENCE IMPOSED IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS FOR A REVOCATION RELATED TO THE PRIOR CONVICTION WITH CASE NUMBER CR-2011-677(b); 5 YEARS SUPERVISED RELEASE; $100.00 SPECIAL ASSESSMENT.

09/12/2018 127 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Honorable P. K. Holmes, III: Sentencing as to Jose Escalante held on 9/12/2018. (Rick Congdon-Court Reporter) (jas) (Entered: 09/12/2018)
09/12/2018 128 FINAL ORDER OF FORFEITURE as to Jose Escalante. Signed by Honorable P. K. Holmes, III on September 12, 2018. (cc via CM/ECF: U.S. Probation Office, U.S. Marshals Service) (jas) (Entered: 09/12/2018)
09/12/2018 130 JUDGMENT as to Jose Escalante (1), Count 4s, DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO 200 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT TO RUN CONCURRENTLY WITH ANY SENTENCE IMPOSED IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS FOR A REVOCATION RELATED TO THE PRIOR CONVICTION WITH CASE NUMBER CR-2011-677(b); 5 YEARS SUPERVISED RELEASE; $100.00 SPECIAL ASSESSMENT. Counts 1-5 and 1s, 2s, 3s, 5s, 6s are DISMISSED ON MOTION OF THE UNITED STATES. Signed by Honorable P. K. Holmes, III on September 12, 2018. (cc via CM/ECF: U.S. Probation Office, U.S. Marshals Service) (hnc) (Entered: 09/12/2018)
09/12/2018 131 STATEMENT OF REASONS as to Jose Escalante filed pursuant to the entry of the 130 Judgment.

THIS DOCUMENT IS FILED UNDER SEAL.
Signed by Honorable P. K. Holmes, III on September 12, 2018. (cc via CM/ECF: U.S. Probation Office, U.S. Marshals Service) (hnc) (Entered: 09/12/2018)

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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