April Adams of Hensley has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. 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.
Adams, 62, and her daughter Amber Church, 38, were indicted on April 2, 2024, on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. In addition to the fentanyl-related charge, Adams received a concurrent 20-year sentence for distribution of methamphetamine. After completing her prison term, she will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Evidence presented at trial indicated that on April 16, 2023, Saline County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence on Crab Apple Circle due to multiple overdoses. Four individuals had overdosed; medical personnel administered Narcan and three survived while one person died at the scene.
During the trial, two survivors testified that Adams offered methamphetamine at the residence to them as well as Church and the eventual victim. After using methamphetamine, Church asked Adams for what she referred to as “cocaine,” which was retrieved from Adams’ room and shared among the group. The substance turned out to be fentanyl.
After ingesting the fentanyl-laced substance, all four individuals who used it—including Church—lost consciousness. Adams did not use this substance herself and waited about 45 minutes before seeking help; instead of calling emergency services immediately, she contacted a friend.
The prosecution is part of an initiative led by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), created under Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF coordinates efforts across agencies to target criminal cartels and organizations involved in activities such as drug trafficking and human smuggling within the United States and abroad. Special focus is placed on crimes involving children or violent offenders.
The investigation was conducted by Saline County Sheriff’s Office with prosecution handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward Walker and Jordan Crews.
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