Two Men Who Conspired to Distribute Fentanyl That Proved Deadly Each Sentenced to At Least 20 Years in Federal Prison

LITTLE ROCK-The two men responsible for distributing fentanyl to an individual who later died will now spend decades in federal prison. Today, Erick Williams, 49, of Pine Bluff, was sentenced to 240 months, or 20 years, in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Earlier, Cortell Randolph, 48, of North Little Rock, the man who provided the fentanyl directly to the victim, was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison, also followed by three years of supervised release. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentences, which were both handed down by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker. There is no parole in the federal system.

A federal grand jury indicted Williams and Randolph on August 1, 2023, in the three-count Indictment that involved a fentanyl conspiracy that resulted in the death of an individual identified in court documents as A.M. In addition to the conspiracy count that charged both defendants, Randolph was also charged with the actual distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the death and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Randolph pleaded guilty to distributing the fentanyl that resulted in A.M.'s death and was sentenced to more than 24 years on June 27, 2024. Williams subsequently pleaded guilty to the fentanyl conspiracy charge on November 7, 2025, and was sentenced today.

Following the overdose death of A.M. at a hotel in Little Rock on June 28, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Little Rock Police Department (LRPD) began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. The investigation revealed that while at a drug rehab facility, A.M. received the phone number for Randolph from an associate who knew that Randolph sold fentanyl. During the evening of June 27, 2023, Randolph sold fentanyl to A.M., who used it and died as a result.

The following day, law enforcement apprehended Randolph when he arrived at the same hotel intending to sell more fentanyl. Randolph had fentanyl and scales in his possession. After Randolph was taken into custody, officers learned that Randolph had been obtaining fentanyl from Williams, including the fentanyl that Randolph sold to A.M. The DEA and LRPD then determined that Williams was staying at a different hotel in Little Rock and took him into custody at that hotel when he exited his room. Williams also had fentanyl in his possession when arrested.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Givens.

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