Jonathan D. Ross U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas
Eric Matlock, a 42-year-old resident of Fordyce, Arkansas, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. The sentence was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and was handed down by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
Matlock had previously been convicted at the state level for conspiracy to deliver cocaine. On October 9, 2024, he was indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts related to methamphetamine and cocaine distribution. He pleaded guilty to both charges on August 8, 2025. In addition to his prison term, Matlock received five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Dallas County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division began investigating narcotics activity in Fordyce in February 2024. Matlock was identified as a suspect during this investigation. Law enforcement used confidential sources and surveillance technology to conduct controlled purchases of narcotics from him and employed aerial surveillance during these operations.
A search warrant executed at Matlock’s residence on June 30, 2024 led officers to discover a buried footlocker near the carport containing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine—specifically, 1.6 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.2 pounds of cocaine—as well as $3,841 in cash and digital scales.
Matlock’s criminal record includes prior convictions for conspiracy to deliver cocaine at the state level; two convictions for possession of crack cocaine; one conviction for possession of firearms by certain persons; one conviction for possession of paraphernalia related to manufacturing drugs; and maintaining a drug premises.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. According to officials: "The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad." The task force emphasizes interagency collaboration among law enforcement agencies including local sheriff’s offices and federal agencies such as the FBI.
The investigation into Matlock was conducted by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Reese Lancaster prosecuted the case.
