Jonathan D. Ross U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas
Keith Brown, a convicted felon from Humble, Texas, has been sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison for leading a criminal organization responsible for numerous pharmacy burglaries across multiple states. This was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The sentence was delivered by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
Brown was indicted along with 41 others on July 2, 2024, following an initial indictment on November 8, 2023. He faced six counts related to these crimes, including conspiracy and burglary charges. On September 4, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The investigation revealed that Brown's drug trafficking operation involved gang members from Houston's 5th Ward area. They stole over 96,000 tablets of Schedule II controlled substances from pharmacies nationwide, including in Arkansas. The street value of these drugs exceeded $1.6 million just within Arkansas. Authorities also seized firearms and cash during their investigations.
Brown participated in at least 34 pharmacy burglaries between July 24, 2021, and November 13, 2022, spanning several states such as Arkansas and Florida. The stolen substances had a street value exceeding $12 million.
Judge Miller sentenced Brown to serve time for his role in the conspiracy and ordered three years of supervised release after his imprisonment. Restitution payments exceeding $250,000 will be required at a later date.
The trial for other defendants is set for April 7, 2025.
This case involved collaboration among various law enforcement agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service, and local police departments across several states.
Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Fields is prosecuting the case under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling major criminal organizations threatening the U.S.
For more information about OCDETF operations: https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF
