The final member of a drug trafficking organization in Northwest Arkansas has been sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine distribution-related crimes. The sentencing hearings were overseen by Judge Timothy L. Brooks at the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
The investigation, which began in October 2022, was conducted by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and investigators from the Fourth Judicial Drug Task Force (JDTF). They identified Charles Grinder as a leader of the group responsible for distributing methamphetamine in the Fayetteville Division. Grinder was found to be an incarcerated gang member who supplied methamphetamine to the Western District of Arkansas.
The members of this organization received federal sentences as follows:
- Charles Grinder, aged 44 from McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 420 months imprisonment and a five-year supervised release for aiding and abetting the distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
- Chelsea Dray, aged 30 from Bentonville, Arkansas, received a sentence of 96 months imprisonment and three years supervised release for methamphetamine distribution.
- Paige Johnson, aged 33 from Claremore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months imprisonment with a three-year supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- James Johnson, aged 40 from Wagoner, Oklahoma, received a sentence of 188 months imprisonment with three years supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Destiny McGinnis, aged 29 from Stillwater, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment with three years supervised release for aiding and abetting the distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
- Christopher Outlaw, aged 39 from Tulsa, Oklahoma, received a sentence of 72 months imprisonment with four years supervised release for aiding and abetting the distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes announced these sentences. The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the FBI's Fayetteville Resident Office and local sheriff’s offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Briana Robbins and Kim Harris prosecuted on behalf of the United States.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) effort aimed at identifying and dismantling high-level criminal organizations that pose threats across the United States through coordinated multi-agency actions.
