Former Arkansas State Police Lieutenant Indicted By Federal Grand Jury On Drug Distribution Charges

Little Rock - Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Randall C. Coleman, Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging former Arkansas State Police Lieutenant Sedrick L. Reed, age 43, and Lamont M. Johnson, age 45, with federal narcotics and firearms charges. The charges stem from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s ArkTrust Public Corruption Task Force and Little Rock Police Department with the full cooperation of the Arkansas State Police. The investigation was also referred to as an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation “Diverted Justice.”

The charges in the indictment and potential penalties are as follows:

Count One Reed & Johnson. Drug Conspiracy, 21 U.S.C. § 846. NLT 10 years and up to life imprisonment; NLT 5 years and up to life supervised release; Up to a $10 million fine.

Count Two Reed & Johnson. Cocaine Distribution, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Up to 20 years imprisonment; NLT 3 years and up to life supervised release; Up to a $1 million fine.

Count Three Reed. Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). NLT 5 years and up to 40 years imprisonment; NLT 4 years and up to life supervised release; Up to a $5 million fine.

Count Four Reed. Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). NLT 5 years and up to 40 years imprisonment; NLT 4 years and up to life supervised release; Up to a $5 million fine.

Count Five Johnson. Felon in Possession of a Firearm, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). NMT 10 years imprisonment; NMT 3 years supervised release; Up to a $250,000 fine.

Count Six Johnson. Possession of a Defaced Firearm, 18 U.S.C. 922(k). NMT 5 years imprisonment; NMT 3 years supervised release; Up to a $250,000 fine.

Count Seven Johnson. Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). NLT 5 years and up to life imprisonment; NMT 5 years supervised release; Up to a $250,000 fine.

Count Eight Reed. Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). NLT 5 years and up to life imprisonment; NMT 5 years supervised release; Up to a $250,000 fine.

The indictment also contains four forfeiture allegations related to firearms and assets, including $30,073 in U.S. Currency seized from Reed’s person and at Reed’s residence, and $57,595 in U.S. Currency seized at Johnson’s residence.

Reed and Johnson will appear before United States Magistrate Judge H. David Young for Plea and Arraignment later this month, at which time a trial date will be set. Reed and Johnson previously appeared before United States Magistrate Judge J. Thomas Ray for an Initial Appearance on a criminal complaint charging them with the conduct underlying Count Two.

On July 23, 2013, following a hearing, Judge Ray entered an order of detention pending trial for Reed, finding by clear and convincing evidence that Reed presents a danger to the community and by a preponderance of the evidence that Reed presents a risk of flight. Also on July 23, 2013, following the United States’ presentation of evidence in support of detention, Judge Ray entered an order of detention without prejudice to Johnson presenting evidence at a later date.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s ArkTrust Public Corruption Task Force with assistance from the Little Rock Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie Peters and Chris Givens.

An indictment contains only allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.