An Arkansas man and woman have been sentenced to a total of 308 months in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking and related offenses. The sentencing hearings, presided over by Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey, took place at the United States District Court in El Dorado.
Court records indicate that on August 24, 2023, Willis Devin Johnson, 36, and Sarah Lavon Paxton, 37, both from Mountain Home, were found in a vehicle at a car wash in Bearden, Arkansas. Law enforcement agents from the El Dorado Police Department, CAD, and the 13th Judicial Drug Task Force had received information about Johnson's attempt to sell methamphetamine. Upon their arrest, officers discovered three vacuum-sealed bags containing 1,400 grams of methamphetamine in their vehicle.
Johnson pleaded guilty on August 22, 2024, to possession of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Paxton entered her guilty plea on September 11, 2024, for the same charge.
As a result of these charges, Johnson was sentenced on January 15, 2025, to serve 188 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Paxton received her sentence on January 14, 2025; she will serve 120 months in federal prison with an additional five years of supervised release.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes. The investigation was conducted by the El Dorado Police Department along with CAD and the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case.