Troy R. Loadholt, a 44-year-old resident of Russellville, Arkansas, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for his involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy linked to the New Aryan Empire (NAE), a white supremacist gang. The sentence was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and handed down by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller on November 13, 2025.
Loadholt pleaded guilty on April 9, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 45 kilograms of methamphetamine. He was indicted as part of a larger case known as “To The Dirt,” which targeted more than 50 individuals from the Pope County area with charges including violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), violent crimes in aid of racketeering, and various gun and drug offenses.
The investigation began in 2016 when local and federal agencies worked together to dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in Russellville. Authorities determined that Loadholt played a central role by supplying large quantities of methamphetamine to NAE members for distribution throughout Pope County. Evidence included testimony from codefendants and law enforcement officers, shipping records from FedEx, and Facebook communications. Loadholt used the corporate account of a restaurant where his brother worked to ship packages containing methamphetamine from California to Arkansas.
All but one of the other defendants indicted in this case have pleaded guilty; Marcus Millsap received a life sentence after being found guilty at trial. There is no parole available in the federal system.
“Thanks to the cooperation of federal, state, and local agencies, a large-scale, violent drug trafficking organization with strong ties to white supremacy gangs in the Pope County, Arkansas, area has been dismantled,” said Ross. “Loadholt and the other defendants in this wide-reaching case have received significant sentences, with one, Marcus Millsap, receiving a life sentence in federal prison. Our goal with the case was to make Pope County a safer community and to clean out the ‘To The Dirt’ organization. With today’s sentence, we’ve made significant progress toward that goal. But our work will continue.”
Joshua Jackson, ATF Special Agent in Charge, stated: “The ATF is working closely with local, state, and federal partners to combat the scourge of deadly illegal drugs in our communities. The sentence imposed today sends a message that we will continue to focus efforts on repeat offenders so we can remove another violent criminal from our streets and keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
Kai Pickens of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service added: “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s mission is to protect the mail, its employees, and customers from criminal attacks. Individuals who weaponize the mail in furtherance of narcotics trafficking will not be tolerated. The United States Postal Inspection Service will remain dedicated to aggressively pursuing all who attempt to use the U.S. mail to traffic contraband. In addition, we will continue our excellent relationships with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners… From these collaborations, we will continue to have successful resolutions and hold perpetrators accountable.”
Sheriff Blake Wilson of Pope County commented: “Today marks the final sentencing of the individuals involved in Operation To The Dirt. This brings closure to a lengthy investigation that demanded dedication, patience, and cooperation across multiple agencies… Justice has been served, and we remain committed to keeping Pope County a safer place for every family who calls it home.”
Russellville Police Chief David Ewing said: “This sentence shows a continuing effort to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement to combat the dangerous criminals and drugs that flow through our neighborhoods and communities… This would not have been possible without the dedicated officers, investigators [and] prosecutors that are unified in the single mission to protect our communities and our state.”
Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Phillips recognized interagency collaboration: “Cooperation is the key to taking down criminal Enterprises. I’m so proud of the cooperation between local law-enforcement agencies and the federal authorities involved in ‘To The Dirt’. I want to specifically recognize the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force who played an integral part in these convictions.”
Loadholt’s sentence was increased due to his status as a career offender based on prior serious drug-related convictions.
This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation—a program designed by U.S. authorities using coordinated multi-agency strategies against major criminal organizations threatening national security (https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF).
Agencies involved included Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Pope County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Russellville Police Department (RPD), and Fifth Judicial District Drug Task Force.
