Four defendants named in a 61-count drug-trafficking indictment targeting associates of a Pine Bluff street gang were sentenced in federal court Tuesday as prosecutors work to close the federal prosecution of defendants named in one of the two 2022 tandem indictments targeting drug trafficking and violence. in Central Arkansas.

The charges targeted 35 people who are alleged to be members or associates of the street gang Every Body Killas — also known by the initials “EBK” — and 26 people who are alleged to be members or associates of the rival gang Loady Murder Mobb or Mobb/Loady. Freddie Gladney III, an Arkansas rap artist who goes by the stage name “Bankroll Freddie,” was recently sentenced to 12 1/2 years in federal prison for his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy outlined in the EBK indictment.

That prosecution, US v. Gladney et al, is named after Gladney’s father, Freddie Gladney Jr, 57, of Oneida, who is the lead defendant in the case.

The elder Gladney, who pleaded guilty last March to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine, is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 9. He faces a statutory penalty of 5 to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million when convicted.

On March 21, LC Davis, 75, of Pine Bluff, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, according to his plea agreement, admitting responsibility for distributing 10.5 ounces and 14 ounces of cocaine between March 2021 and his arrest in November 2022. The statutory penalty for the crime is up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

On Tuesday, after a delay of nearly two hours, U.S. District Judge James M. Moody Jr. sentenced Davis to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., Davis was not brought into the courtroom until 11:45 a.m. because of an unexplained delay in transporting inmates housed at the Greene County Jail in Paragould. Davis, who has been in federal custody for nearly two years, was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair by federal marshals, where he joined his attorney, Blake Hendrix of Little Rock.

Citing Davis’ age and poor health, Hendrix requested a downward modification of his sentence from 37 to 46 months in prison and asked Moody to sentence Davis to two years with credit for time served.

“We are requesting a 13-month downward variance from the lower end of the guidance range,” Hendrix said. “Twenty-four months served would serve justice in this case.”

Hendrix said Davis has received numerous letters of support in favor of clemency.

“And of course, obviously, he’s 75 years old and has multiple health issues,” he said. “Hopefully his playing days are over and he’s ready to move on to the final stage of his life and be with his family, who are so close to him.”

Davis, apologizing to his family and Moody, said he was ready to turn the page.

“If I have a break here today,” Davis said, “you’ll never see me here again.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Fields acknowledged Davis’ advanced age, but noted that “he was 73 years old when he committed all these crimes.”

“Age didn’t really factor into his criminal enterprises at 73, so I don’t think 75 is going to slow him down or deter him,” she said. “His criminal history dates back to 1967 and he has had serious convictions for drug offenses in the past.”

Moody said a 37-month prison sentence was warranted, “when I balance Mr. Davis’s age and health against the offense committed and his criminal record.”

“Those prior sentences and his advanced age were not sufficient to deter him from the instant offense,” Moody said, “but I will not go any higher because of his age and … health. I think it could have been justified, but when I weigh everything together, that’s what I think is appropriate.”

On November 16, 2023, Kajarvis “Flute” O’Neal, 33, of Helena-West Helena, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute between 10 and 20 kilograms of marijuana, which exposed him to a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison. and a fine of up to $250,000. On Tuesday, Moody sentenced O’Neal to pretrial detention and ordered him to serve 2 1/2 years of supervised release.

On Feb. 2, Jennifer Lenair, 43, of Dundee, Miss., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 60 to 80 pounds of marijuana, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. On Tuesday, Moody sentenced Lenair to five years of probation.

On March 20, Kobi Knight, 46, of Little Rock, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute between 500 grams and 2 kilograms of cocaine. On Tuesday, Moody sentenced Knight to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.