Fayetteville Man Sentenced To 10 Years In Federal Prison For Drug Trafficking

Fayetteville, Arkansas - Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Dalton Truax, age 19, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release, and a $2,400.00 fine for one count of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.

According to court records, investigators received information that a suspected package of methamphetamine was seized in the mail. Investigators executed a search warrant on the package and confirmed that it contained methamphetamine. Investigators simultaneously conducted surveillance of the target residence where the package was addressed. A detective drove the package to the target address, and Truax immediately opened the door. The detective indicated that he had received a package by mistake. The detective asked Truax had he been expecting a package, and was his name "Bill," which was the name on the package; Truax confirmed. The detective handed Truax the package, identified himself as a police officer, and advised Truax that he was under arrest. Truax attempted to flee, but was detained and place in handcuffs.

Truax was on active state probation, and had signed a waiver allowing a search of his residence by law enforcement officers at any time. Investigators executed a search of Truax’s bedroom and recovered packaging baggies, a digital scale, nine baggies of marijuana, and a stolen S&W Bodyguard .380. The narcotics were subsequently tested at DEA laboratory and contained approximately 389 grams of methamphetamine.

Truax was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2018, entered a guilty plea in December 2018.

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