David Clay Fowlkes, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas
An Arkansas man and woman have been sentenced to a total of 308 months in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking. The sentencing hearings were conducted by Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey at the United States District Court in El Dorado.
Court records reveal that on August 24, 2023, Willis Devin Johnson, aged 36, and Sarah Lavon Paxton, aged 37, both from Mountain Home, were found in a vehicle at a car wash in Bearden, Arkansas. Information had been received by agents from the El Dorado Police Department, CAD, and the 13th Judicial Drug Task Force that Johnson was attempting to sell methamphetamine. A search of their vehicle led to the discovery of three vacuum-sealed bags containing 1,400 grams of methamphetamine.
Johnson pleaded guilty on August 22, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Paxton entered her guilty plea on September 11, 2024.
On January 15, 2025, Johnson was sentenced to serve 188 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Paxton received a sentence of 120 months in federal prison with an additional five years of supervised release on January 14, 2025.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes. The case was investigated by the El Dorado Police Department along with CAD and the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case for the United States.
