First-time offender arrested in 2017 drug sting sentenced

A Hot Springs man arrested last year as part of the multiagency drug sting dubbed Operation Ice Storm pleaded guilty to felony charges Monday in Garland County Circuit Court.

Keith Donell Lawson, 38, who was set to stand trial June 12, pleaded guilty to delivery of a schedule II controlled substance, Adderall, and unlawful use of a communications device and was sentenced to eight years' probation on each count, to run concurrently, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $545 in court costs.

An additional felony charge of delivery of a controlled substance involving meth was withdrawn.

Deputy Prosecutor Trent Daniels said Lawson had no prior criminal history so he was sentenced as a first-time offender and he was willing to plead guilty without the prosecution having to reveal the identity of its confidential informant in open court which was also a factor in the decision to give him probation.

According to the probable cause affidavit, between July 4 and Sept. 4, 2017, agents with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security used a confidential informant to make a controlled purchase of Adderall, more than 2 grams, but less than 10 grams, from a known suspect later identified as Lawson.

Lawson was one of 36 suspects arrested in September 2017 as part of Operation Ice Storm during which law enforcement officers seized more than 30 pounds of meth, two ounces of powder cocaine, 31 ecstasy pills, 141 "controlled pharmaceuticals" and 17 firearms taken from previously convicted felons prohibited by law from possessing firearms.

Lawson was arrested Sept. 28 and released on $50,000 bond on Oct. 3.

Local on 04/10/2018

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