Hot Springs Man Sentenced to Over Nine Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Federal Firearm Charges

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El Dorado, Arkansas | Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Anthony Cornilous, Jr., age 22, of Hot Springs, was sentenced today to 111 months in prison and three years of supervised release for Distribution of Cocaine Base, Possession of Cocaine Base with Intent to Deliver, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Cornilous was originally indicted by a grand jury on March 19, 2014. The sentencing took place before the Honorable Susan O. Hickey in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas in El Dorado.

U.S. Attorney Eldridge commented, “Armed drug traffickers are a threat to our communities, and the danger law enforcement officers and the citizens of the Western District of Arkansas face in these situations is real and cannot be overstated. We will continue to aggressively work with law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute these crimes and hold those involved fully accountable.”

According to court records, from November 2013 to January 2014, during the course of an on-going investigation, the Hot Springs Police Department Street Crimes Unit and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Cornilous in exchange for U.S. currency. The suspected drugs were sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab where they tested positive for cocaine base.

On February 24, 2014, officers from Hot Springs Police Department and the 18th East Judicial District Task Force executed a search warrant on Cornilous’ residence where they located approximately 30 grams of crack cocaine, $757.00 cash, digital scales, a loaded AK47 assault rifle, and four pistols, one of which was stolen. Cornilous admitted to trying to destroy evidence at the time of the search and pleaded guilty to the charges on July 8, 2014.

This case was investigated by the Hot Springs Police Department Street Crimes Unit, the 18th East Judicial District Drug Task Force, and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U. S. Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case for the United States.

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