Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to More than 55 Years Combined in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking

FAYETTEVILLE - The final member of a Northwest Arkansas drug trafficking organization was sentenced to federal prison for crimes related to the distribution of fentanyl. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearings for the United States District Court in Fayetteville.

According to court documents, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing fentanyl pills in Fayetteville and Fort Smith from January to September of 2024. Investigators identified Salvador Caracena-Zarates as a distributer of methamphetamine and the leader and source of supply for fentanyl being distributed by Rafael Norwood, Christopher Howes, and Alonzo Releford. The pills distributed by this group contained fentanyl made or pressed to look like M-30 Oxycontin prescription pills.

Those members of the drug trafficking organization indicted federally have been sentenced as follows:

Salvador Fautino Caracena-Zarates, Jr. a/k/a "Doe": age 42, Fort Smith, Arkansas - Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine- 300 months imprisonment and 4-year term of supervised release.

Rafael Deaundra Norwood, Sr.: age 40, Fayetteville, Arkansas - Aiding and abetting in the distribution of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl- 168 months imprisonment and 3-year term of supervised release.

Christopher Ray Howes: age 43, Fayetteville, Arkansas - Aiding and abetting in the distribution of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl- 100 months imprisonment and 3-year term of supervised release.

Alonzo Lee Releford, III: age 23, Fayetteville, Arkansas - Distribution of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl - 100 months imprisonment and 3-year term of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case with assistance by the following agencies: Fourth Judicial Drug Task Force, Fort Smith Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Benton County Drug Unit, Bentonville Police Department, Fayetteville Police Department, and Arkansas State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sydney Butler Stanley prosecuted the case for the United States.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at https://www.pacer.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..