Hot Springs Man Sentenced to Over 8 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

HOT SPRINGS - A Hot Springs man was sentenced on January 27, to 97 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. 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, John Raymond Duran, age 58, was identified by law enforcement to be distributing methamphetamine in Hot Springs, Arkansas area.

Between the months of December 2020 and March 2021, investigators were able to conduct multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Duran.

On April 12, 2021, a search was conducted at Duran's residence, resulting in investigators locating and seizing approximately 1539 grams of a mixture or substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.

The methamphetamine seized and purchased was subsequently submitted to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory for additional testing.

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

Homeland Security Investigations Little Rock, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Hot Springs Police Department, and the 18^th 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.