Armed career criminal sentenced to 15 years in federal prison

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Roy Edsel Heifner Jr. was sentenced to 15 years in a federal prison for trafficking in controlled substances, including fentanyl, and criminal possession of a firearm.

According to Jonathon D. Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, the ruling was made Monday by U.S. District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky.

Heifner, 76, of College Station, was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 4, 2020, on charges of criminal possession of a firearm.

On February 7, 2023, an indictment was filed charging Heifner with six counts related to the distribution of Schedule II substances, including fentanyl and oxycodone, and two counts of criminal possession of a firearm.

Following the conclusion of the jury trial on March 1, 2023, Heifner was found guilty by a federal jury of conspiracy to possess and distribute fentanyl and oxycodone with the intent to distribute, two counts of possession of fentanyl and oxycodone with the intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a firearm.

In addition to his 180-month prison sentence, Judge Rudofsky sentenced Heifner to three years of probation.

On September 3, 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received intelligence that Heifner was distributing various types of prescription drugs for his residence in College Station.

The results of the investigation showed that Heifner was a convicted felon who had been arrested several times.

On October 17, 2019, a search warrant was executed at Heifner's apartment. At the end of the search, officers seized over 300 pills that resembled oxycodone but turned out to be fentanyl.

About 100 pills were found, including oxycodone and hydrocodone.

During the search, officers also seized two firearms and found $300,000, believed to be drug proceeds.

Heifner was released on bail after he was first arraigned on February 4, 2020.

The investigation continued while he was out on bail and revealed that Heifner continued to sell pills.

In July 2021, law enforcement-controlled purchases of Heifner's pills were made.

According to authorities, the pills from the transaction initially appeared to be oxycodone, but further investigation revealed that they were fentanyl.

Heifner was later taken into custody again, where he remained until his trial.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the Arkansas State Police, Saline County Sheriff's Office and Little Rock Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne Gardner and Reese Lancaster served as prosecutors in this case.