A New York man has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison after investigators discovered a multi-state methamphetamine trafficking scheme linked to Arkansas, federal prosecutors revealed Wednesday.
According to the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Orlando Nembhard, 34, of Mount Vernon, New York, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Chief U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker also ordered Nembhard to serve five years on supervised release after his prison sentence.
Federal prosecutors said the charge arose from a Homeland Security Task Force investigation that began in May 2024, when Dallas police officers conducting airport interdiction operations deployed a K9 unit to scan bags from inbound aircraft. Authorities say the dog alerted investigators to luggage on its way from Phoenix to Little Rock.
According to court filings, investigators recovered approximately 7.6 kilograms of methamphetamine in 10 vacuum-sealed bundles packed in the bag.
The suitcase was later linked to Nembhard and his co-defendant, Joe Brandon of Newport, Arkansas. According to prosecutors, security video showed the two men checking bags together at Phoenix airport before Brandon boarded a trip to Little Rock, while Nembhard exited without boarding.
A second inquiry in July 2024 led to Brandon’s arrest at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock after a K9 alerted investigators to another bag. According to investigators, Brandon attempted to flee after removing the luggage tag off the suitcase. Agents later recovered around 120,000 fentanyl tablets weighing 24 pounds inside the luggage.
Brandon is still in detention awaiting trial on various federal drug and handgun counts.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Task Force teams in Little Rock, Dallas, and Phoenix, as well as local police agencies in Arkansas, Texas, and Arizona. Assistant United States Attorney Bart Dickinson prosecuted the case.
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