Fayetteville, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced today that Preston Baxter, age 27, and Dezi Castillo Jr., age 31, were sentenced for conspiring to distribute heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine in Northwest Arkansas. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, in May 2018, detectives conducted two controlled drug purchases from Castillo. The second controlled drug purchase occurred at Baxter’s apartment in Springdale, Arkansas. Based on the two controlled drug purchases as well as an odor of marijuana that emitted from Baxter’s apartment, detectives executed a search warrant on June 1, 2018. The search resulted in the seizure of 87.05 grams of actual methamphetamine, a net weight of 21.039 grams of heroin, 15.8 grams of cocaine, and approximately 248 grams of marijuana. Additionally, the search revealed multiple weapons and approximately $2,075.00.
Baxter was sentenced on June 17, 2019, to 135 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Castillo was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Baxter and Castillo were indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2018 and entered guilty pleas in January and April 2019, respectively.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Carly Marshall prosecuted the case for the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
