Fayetteville, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Ronald Hovey, age 66, and Dennis Pacheco, age 30, were sentenced to 275 months combined in federal prison followed by 7 years of supervised release for Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute More Than 500 Grams of a Mixture of Methamphetamine.  The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearings in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.

According to court records, in 2018, the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force launched an investigation into Pacheco and Hovey for trafficking methamphetamine in Northwest Arkansas.  In 2019, law enforcement received information that Hovey would be meeting Pacheco to pick up several pounds of methamphetamine.  Law enforcement initiated surveillance of their vehicles and located them in a parking lot in Winslow, Arkansas, standing outside of Hovey’s vehicle with the trunk open.  A search of Hovey’s vehicle revealed approximately 3,055.8 grams of actual methamphetamine and a digital scale.  In September 2018, a search of Hovey’s residence also resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine.     

Hovey, of Fayetteville, was sentenced today to 188 months in federal prison as a career offender followed by 5 years of supervised release.  Pacheco, of Little Rock, was sentenced last month to 87 months in federal prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. 

Pacheco and Hovey were indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2019.  They entered guilty pleas in July 2019. 

This case was investigated by the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Sydney Butler prosecuted the case for the United States.