A federal jury has convicted Arthur Joyner, 43, of Little Rock, for distributing fentanyl pills that led to the death of a man who ingested them. The verdict was reached after four days of testimony and just 45 minutes of jury deliberation. Joyner now faces a mandatory life sentence in prison due to his prior criminal record, which includes serious felony drug and violent convictions.
The case stems from an incident on October 13, 2023, when an acquaintance contacted Joyner seeking oxycodone pills for back pain. The individual specifically requested authentic oxycodone and sent Joyner articles warning about counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. In response, Joyner assured him the pills were real and sent a photo of blue tablets marked with “M” on one side and “30” on the other—markings typical of oxycodone.
On October 14, Joyner sold three such pills to the acquaintance at a residence in Little Rock for $30. However, the pills actually contained fentanyl instead of oxycodone. Testimony revealed that the victim took one pill late on October 15 at a hotel in Searcy and another between 8 and 9 a.m. on October 16. Shortly after taking the second pill by snorting it, he stopped breathing and was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:23 a.m.
Further evidence showed that Joyner had previously sold cocaine to this individual and others in recent weeks.
Joyner was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 5, 2024, for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. The verdict was delivered to United States District Judge Brian S. Miller, who will set sentencing at a later date. There is no parole available under federal law for this offense; in addition to life imprisonment, the charge carries up to $1 million in fines.
The investigation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Central Arkansas Drug Task Force, Searcy Police Department, and White County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Bryant and Chris Givens prosecuted the case.
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