MAN FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN 500 GRAMS OF METHAMPHETAMINE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2013
Fayetteville, Arkansas- Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced today that Jose Rivera-Navas, age 39, a resident of California and native of El Salvador, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Rivera-Navas faces a sentence of ten years to life in prison. United States District Court Judge, Jimm Larry Hendren, presided over the trial.
United States Attorney Eldridge commented, “Our office remains committed to prosecuting those involved in drug trafficking in Northwest Arkansas. We will continue to work with law enforcement to do all we can to identify drug trafficking activity in our district and to prosecute individuals responsible for it.”
According to evidence presented to the jury, on June 25, 2013, the Oklahoma City Police Department Narcotics Interdiction Unit was patrolling the Union Bus Station in Oklahoma City when they encountered Steven Ingrahm. The officers became suspicious of Ingrahm and received consent to search his luggage. Inside his luggage, the officers discovered a box of suspected methamphetamine. Ingrahm was interviewed and admitted that he was transporting approximately two pounds of methamphetamine to a contact known as “Mara” in Springdale, Arkansas. Ingrahm agreed to work as an informant and complete the delivery. Ingrahm was then equipped with a recording device and delivered the two pounds of methamphetamine to “Mara,” later identified as Jose Rivera-Navas, to a hotel in Springdale. Rivera-Navas was arrested when he exited the hotel, and the methamphetamine was found inside his pants.
This case was investigated by Oklahoma City Police Department Narcotics Interdiction Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administrative offices in Fayetteville and Oklahoma. Assistant United States Attorneys Kenneth Elser and Brandon Carter prosecuted the case for the United States.
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