FAYETTEVILLE -- Johnathan Sansonetti, 26, of Cane Hill, recently was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office with Western District of Arkansas.
Sansonetti was sentenced in court on Aug. 16. Federal Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, in the spring of 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Sansonetti for the distribution of methamphetamine. In June of 2016, the DEA arranged and conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Sansonetti. On July 26, 2016, officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle being driven by the Sansonetti. After a K-9 alert and a search of the vehicle, agents located approximately one-half of a pound of methamphetamine concealed within the air filter compartment under the hood of the vehicle along with a 7mm Rifle.
Sansonetti waived his Miranda Rights, according to the news release, and he advised officers he had approximately $40,000 in currency along with more methamphetamine at his residence. During the search of Sansonetti's residence, agents located about 24 pounds of methamphetamine, $38,000 in United States currency, and several firearms along with assorted ammunition.
During an interview, Sansonetti waived his Miranda rights and admitted his involvement in the possession and distribution of methamphetamine, the news release says.
All the methamphetamine located was sent to the DEA Lab for testing. The lab determined the substance from the vehicle contained about 217 grams of actual methamphetamine and that the methamphetamine located at the residence contained 11 kilograms of actual methamphetamine.
Sansonetti was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2016, and pleaded guilty in January 2017.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.
General News on 08/23/2017