Allan Ricardo Medina-Morales, a 39-year-old Honduran national residing illegally in Judsonia, Arkansas, has been sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and delivered by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
Medina-Morales was indicted on February 7, 2023, by a federal grand jury on four counts: conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He pleaded guilty on April 23, 2024, to the conspiracy charge. In addition to his prison term, he received five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation revealed that Medina-Morales conspired with others in March 2022 to distribute methamphetamine. On March 15, 2022, Conway Police Department officers observed suspicious activity at a co-conspirator’s house involving Medina-Morales carrying a duffel bag from his vehicle into the residence and transporting another kilogram of methamphetamine from a tree stump into the house.
After leaving the property with his co-conspirator, Medina-Morales was stopped by Arkansas State Police troopers. A search of his vehicle uncovered a Colt .38 caliber firearm in the glove box. A subsequent search warrant led officers to discover about 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and drug distribution paraphernalia inside the duffel bag at the property. Laboratory analysis confirmed that authorities seized approximately 11.7889 kilograms of methamphetamine during the operation.
Medina-Morales had previous encounters with law enforcement related to immigration violations. He was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents on January 6, 2013, for illegal entry near Edinburg, Texas. An Immigration Court ordered him removed to Honduras on October 9, 2019; however, he did not appear as required by court order. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on Medina-Morales for deportation after he completes his sentence.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from Arkansas State Police and Conway Police Department.
