A Brookland man was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison on Thursday for trafficking methamphetamine, according to federal prosecutors.
Rickey Allen Brown, 56, received a 144-month sentence for distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. District Judge D.P. Marshall Jr. ruled. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release, as there is no parole in the federal justice system.
U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross announced the sentence, which stemmed from Brown’s guilty plea on May 2, 2025, to charges outlined in a superseding information. The charges included one count of distribution of 50 to 500 grams of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 to 500 grams of methamphetamine.
Court documents revealed that the case against Brown began when a confidential informant purchased two bags of methamphetamine from him at his Brookland residence on Dec. 27, 2021. The informant turned the roughly $700 worth of drugs over to law enforcement, and testing by the Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed the methamphetamine was 100% pure.
Brown was later observed entering a “known drug house” on Jan. 27, 2022, while law enforcement conducted surveillance. Officers saw him leave the residence appearing to conceal an item and initiated a traffic stop after he committed unspecified traffic violations.
During the stop, officers noted Brown was sweating profusely and appeared visibly nervous. They also detected the smell of marijuana. A search revealed two bags of methamphetamine in his pocket and an additional 110 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine in a canvas bag under the driver's seat of his car.
Federal investigators, led by the FBI with support from the Second Judicial Drug Task Force, Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, and Arkansas State Police, built the case against Brown. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin O’Leary handled the prosecution.
Brown’s conviction adds to an extensive criminal history that includes several prior convictions related to drug offenses.
Federal authorities encourage residents to report suspicious drug-related activity to local law enforcement or federal agencies.