Prairie Grove man sentenced to 9 years for drug trafficking, firearms possession

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A Prairie Grove man was sentenced Tuesday to 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.

According to court documents, on or about Feb. 8, 2021, detectives with the 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force received information that a large quantity of methamphetamine was being delivered by mail to Aaron Gregory Samplawski, age 38, at his residence in Prairie Grove.

On Feb. 10, 2021, detectives contacted special agents with the U.S. Postal Service and advised them of the investigation. Special agents found a package, a priority mail parcel, coming from San Diego addressed to Samplawski and his address in Prairie Grove. The weight of the package was 1 pound, 5 ounces.

On Feb. 13, 2021, special agents intercepted the parcel at the Prairie Grove Post Office. On that day, a Springdale police officer and his canine (K9) partner were utilized in the investigation of the suspect parcel. The K9 searched and alerted to the parcel.

On Feb. 13, 2021, special agents obtained a federal search warrant to search the parcel. Special agents opened the parcel and seized approximately 1 pound of a crystal substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.

On Feb. 13, 2021, special agents conducted a controlled delivery at Samplawski’s residence in Prairie Grove. Samplawski took possession of the parcel and entered his residence. A search warrant was executed at the residence. The search resulted in law enforcement officers locating 439.3 grams of actual methamphetamine, two loaded handguns, counterfeit money and drug paraphernalia. Samplawski subsequently posted bond in February and was arrested again in April when detectives from the drug task force conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Samplawski.

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

The 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the United States Postal Service and the Springdale Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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