LITTLE ROCK—The final defendant in a 17-person indictment charging a central Arkansas narcotics distribution ring has been sentenced to more than 18 years in prison, concluding the case of a large-scale drug conspiracy that involved multiple kilograms of fentanyl. On Tuesday, Darrell Walls, a/k/a/ “Shawn”, 35, of Little Rock, was sentenced to 223 months in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by five years of supervised release. United States District Judge Brian S. Miller sentenced Walls and all other defendants in this case.
Walls was originally indicted along with 16 others on October 2, 2019. On August 25, 2021, Walls pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute between 1.2 and 4 kilograms of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine and potentially deadly in even tiny amounts when ingested illicitly and without a doctor’s supervision.
When he pleaded guilty, Walls admitted that he was part of a conspiracy along with other large-scale narcotics dealers like co-defendants Desmond Kelley, Javion Robinson, and Jaylon Livingston to distribute fentanyl in the greater Little Rock area. The group was responsible for distributing multiple kilograms of fentanyl, in gram-to-ounce amounts, to dozens of identified customers. Walls also completed eight different controlled sales of fentanyl to individuals working with law enforcement.
Every defendant in the case pleaded guilty, with sentences ranging from probation to more than 18 years in prison. In addition to Walls’ 223-month sentence, other sentences of key members of the conspiracy include Kelley receiving 211 months (151 months in this case, consecutive to 60 months in a separate case), Livingston 151 months, Robinson 120 months, Dewon Williams 130 months, Ricky Hinton 110 months, and Robert Johnson 90 months. There is no parole in the federal system.
Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced today’s sentencing. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the North Little Rock Police Department and Sherwood Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Givens prosecuted the case.Final defend
