Bertoldo Alcaraz-Ortuno, a 37-year-old from Guerrero, Mexico, has been sentenced to 136 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and issued by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
Alcaraz-Ortuno was indicted on December 3, 2024, by a federal grand jury on four counts: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and illegal reentry after deportation. He pleaded guilty to the drug charge on August 7, 2025. In addition to his prison term, he will serve five years of supervised release. Federal sentences do not allow for parole.
The investigation began when law enforcement received information identifying Alcaraz-Ortuno as a supplier. Officers visited his residence where he admitted having a kilogram of methamphetamine in his shed. After obtaining a search warrant, authorities found 1,726 grams of methamphetamine and two firearms—a .40 caliber weapon in the shed and a 9mm firearm—along with $10,445 in cash.
Immigration officials confirmed that Alcaraz-Ortuno was not legally present in the United States and had previously been deported several times between May 2015 and July 2020.
His criminal record includes an October 3, 2019 federal conviction for drug offenses that resulted in a four-year prison sentence and five years’ supervised release. At the time of his most recent arrest, he was still under supervision from that earlier conviction.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Little Rock Police Department led the investigation with support from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Stacy Williams prosecuted the case.
“Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.”
