EL DORADO, Ark. — A group of fifteen individuals, including two key drug suppliers from Los Angeles, have been handed prison sentences totaling more than a century behind bars for their involvement in a sprawling methamphetamine distribution network in south Arkansas.
The sentences were handed down between August 2024 and May 2025 in El Dorado, marking the conclusion of a lengthy federal investigation into the drug ring’s operations.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas, the drug ring was led by Christopher Walters, 45, from Magnolia. Between August 2021 and August 2022, Walters coordinated the distribution of kilograms of methamphetamine throughout Columbia County and nearby areas. He sourced much of his supply from Michael Cummings, 46, who operated out of Southern California.
Supporting Cummings was Robert Leone Morris, 47, also of Los Angeles, who facilitated the delivery of meth and other narcotics to Walters in Arkansas. Remarkably, some shipments were transported by train, highlighting the sophisticated logistics behind this illegal operation.
Walters recruited a network of people in south Arkansas to store, transport, and sell the drugs, sharing significant profits with Cummings. This tight-knit operation drew the attention of federal law enforcement.
On August 10, 2022, the FBI and partner agencies executed search warrants at multiple locations tied to the drug ring in Columbia County. The raids uncovered a cache of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and over 15 firearms—including tactical rifles—along with thousands of dollars in cash.
Between September 2022 and March 2023, a federal grand jury indicted 15 individuals connected to Walters, including Cummings and Morris. These indictments covered a total of 50 felony charges.
All 15 pleaded guilty to one or more felony offenses. Their prison sentences reflect the severity of their crimes, ranging from three years to nearly 19 years behind bars. Below is a summary of the key defendants and their sentences:
- Christopher Walters (Magnolia, AR) — 222 months
- Michael Cummings (Los Angeles, CA) — 162 months and a $100,000 money judgment tied to illicit profits
- Jvance Radford (Magnolia, AR) — 144 months
- Joseph Lowe (Magnolia, AR) — 140 months
- Robert Leone Morris (Los Angeles, CA) — 121 months
- Others received sentences ranging from 36 to 120 months, with individuals from Magnolia, Waldo, and Los Angeles involved.
The $100,000 money judgment against Cummings is enforceable against his assets both in California and elsewhere, aiming to recoup profits made from the drug conspiracy.
This multi-state drug trafficking ring’s dismantling highlights the ongoing commitment of federal and local agencies to combat the opioid and meth epidemic devastating communities across Arkansas and beyond.
“This article was written by Mathew Owen. AI tools were used lightly for grammar and formatting, but the ideas, words, and edits are all mine.”
