Hot Springs Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Possession

HOT SPRINGS – A Hot Springs man was sentenced today to 130 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court in Hot Springs.

According to court documents, George Monroe Walston, age 51, was identified by law enforcement to be distributing methamphetamine in Hot Springs, Arkansas area.

Between the months of May 2021 and October 2021, investigators were able to conduct multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Walston.

On April 19, 2021, a search was conducted at Walston’s residence, resulting in investigators locating and seizing approximately 205.3 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, located in various locations throughout the residence; approximately 359.7 grams of marijuana; nineteen (19) individual dosage units of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (aka “LSD” or “Acid”); $6,330 United States Currency; and ten (10) firearms, including five (5) handguns, two (2) shotguns, and three (3) rifles; and various ammunition for the recovered firearms.

The methamphetamine and the LSD recovered and seized, was subsequently forwarded to the Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory for confirmatory testing.

U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations Little Rock, Hot Springs Police Department, Garland County Sheriff’s Department and 18th East Judicial District Drug Task Force investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Achorn and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.GOV/OCDETF.

Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov.