LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An Arkansas man has now been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his involvement in the distribution of controlled substances, including fentanyl, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to reports, in September 2019, the DEA received information about a man who had allegedly been distributing prescription medication out of his home.
An investigation into the man, later identified as 76-year-old Roy Edsel Heifner, Jr. of College Station, showed that he was a convicted felon who had been arrested many times.
After a search warrant was served at his home, authorities found 300 fentanyl pills and 100 pills that were a mix of oxycodone and hydrocodone. They also found two firearms and over $300,000 in cash that is believed to be from drug proceeds.
Heifner was first indicted in February 2020 for being a felon in possession of a firearm but was later released on bond. An investigation showed that he continued selling pills and in July 2021 law enforcement officers made controlled purchases of pills from him while at his home.
The pills purchased were confimred to be fentanyl and Heifner was then taken into custody. He was detained until the day of his trial.
A superseding indictment, which is a document that amends and replaces the original indictment, was filed in February 2023. In that, Heifner was charged with six counts related to the distribution of schedule II substances which included both fentanyl and oxycodone.
He was also charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
During his trial, Heifner was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl and oxycodone, as well as two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and oxycodone, and of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Heifner was sentenced to 15 years in prison and to serve three years of supervised release.
