Northwest Arkansas Pair Sentenced to 71 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

            Fort Smith, Arkansas - Kenneth Elser, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Sherri Vanderpool, age 38, of Harrison, Arkansas, and Helen Smith, age 49, of Marble Falls, Arkansas were sentenced today for drug trafficking charges.  Vanderpool was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison followed by three (3) years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine.  Smith was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison followed by three (3) years of supervised release on one count of Aiding and Abetting in the Distribution of Methamphetamine.  The Honorable Chief Judge P.K. Holmes, III presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.

            Vanderpool:  According to the plea agreement, on February 3, 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration arranged for a controlled purchase of two ounces of methamphetamine from Sherri Vanderpool.  On that same day, Vanderpool sold approximately 2 ounces of methamphetamine for $2,600.  The suspected substance was sent to the DEA Laboratory where it was confirmed to be a mixture containing 44.0 grams of actual methamphetamine.

            Smith:  According to the plea agreement, on December 8, 2015 during a controlled purchase arranged by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Helen Smith provided methamphetamine in exchange for $500.  The suspected substance was sent to the DEA Laboratory where it was determined to be a mixture of 6.7 grams of actual methamphetamine. 

            Vanderpool and Smith were both indicted by a federal grand jury on March 16, 2016, and both pleaded guilty on April 25, 2016.

            These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant United States Attorney Denis Dean prosecuted the cases for the United States.

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Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov