15 defendants, 118 lbs. of meth, 76.8 years of sentences

— Fifteen Springdale defendants in a drug smuggling case received a combined sentence of 76.8 years, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge.

The investigation was dubbed La Pantera Negra. Investigators seized more than 118 pounds of methamphetamine during the investigation, along with vehicles, weapons and more than $82,000 in cash. The investigation included several undercover drug buys and covered areas including Northwest Arkansas and Dallas.

Eldridge announced the following sentences:

  • Wilber Alvarenga, age 31 - (48) months in prison with three years of supervised release
  • Gregorio Carranza, age 28 - (48) months in prison with three years of supervised release
  • Rodolfo Carrillo, age 41 - no prison term with one year of supervised release
  • Porfirio Castro-Ruiz, age 47 - (27) months in prison with one year of supervised release
  • Eberardo Coria-Hernandez, age 20 - (121) months in prison with four years of supervised release
  • Donna Daosavanh, age 24 - (37) months in prison with three years of supervised release
  • Omar Frias, age 30 - (42) months in prison with three years of supervised release
  • Dianna Gandert, age 28 - (48) months in prison with three years of supervised release
  • Jose Herrera, age 26 - (60) months in prison with four years of supervised release
  • Marlene Martinez, age 27 - (62) months in prison with three years of supervised release
  • Jose Mejia-Machado, age 44 - (84) months in prison with three years of supervised release
  • Tamera Rivera, age 31 - (30) months in prison with three years of supervised release
  • Jeffery Ruano, age 26 - (12) months plus one day in prison with no supervised release
  • Ana Vaca-Gomez, age 34 - (87) months in prison with four years of supervised release
  • Celen Zendejas, age 27 - (216) months in prison with three years of supervised release

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