Co-Conspirators from Cabot and Massachusetts Sentenced in Drug Conspiracy

LITTLE ROCK—Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas; and Valerie Parlave, Special Agent in Charge for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Little Rock Field Office announced today the sentencing of George W. Thompson, age 65, of Cabot, Arkansas, and Ralph F. Deleo, age 65, of Somerville, Massachusetts. Thompson and Deleo were sentenced by the Honorable J. Leon Holmes, Chief Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas, for their respective roles in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy that involved Thompson sending a drug courier to California to obtain the cocaine, which was then transported to Little Rock and intercepted in Lonoke County on its way to Deleo in Massachusetts.

Thompson was sentenced to 121 months' imprisonment and eight years' supervised release. Deleo was sentenced to 144 months' imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, and eight years' supervised release. Deleo's sentence was enhanced due to his criminal record. Both are in federal custody.

Both Thompson and Deleo still face a racketeering conspiracy charge in the District of Massachusetts, see 1:09-CR-10391-DPW (D. Mass.). The drug conspiracy charged in this district is one of the overt acts alleged in the conspiracy charged in Massachusetts.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Little Rock and Boston Field Offices and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura G. Hoey and Criminal Chief Patrick C. Harris.