FAYETTEVILLE – A previously convicted felon living in Rogers was sentenced Wednesday to 180 months in prison without the possibility of parole followed by five additional years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.

According to court documents, in late 2020, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted an undercover investigation into large-scale methamphetamine trafficking in Northwest Arkansas. During the investigation, an informant, working at the direction of the DEA, made a controlled purchase of methamphetamine directly from Francisco Trujillo, age 26. On or about December 3, 2021, DEA agents, along with representatives from Arkansas Probation and Parole, preformed a home compliance check on Trujillo, who was on parole based on a previous felony conviction. During the search, agents located approximately four (4) pounds of methamphetamine.

Trujillo was subsequently charged in federal court via Grand Jury with drug trafficking and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. On or about August 15, 2022,  Trujillo pleaded guilty to possessing the nearly four (4) pounds of methamphetamine and intending to distribute it.