Pulaski County felon sentenced to 15 years for intent to distribute drugs, firearm possession

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A central Arkansas felon was given a decade and a half of federal prison time for possessing controlled substances as well as having a firearm.

Federal prosecutors said 76-year-old Roy Edsel Heifner Jr., who they describe as an armed career criminal, was given 15 years in federal prison for his involvement in the distribution of controlled substances, including fentanyl, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

In September of 2019, officials said the DEA learned that Heifner was distributing various kinds of prescription drugs from his College Station home. Investigators said they learned Heifner was a convicted felon and later executed a search warrant of his home in October of 2019, finding 300 pills that resembled oxycodone that were identified as fentanyl.

Authorities said they also found 100 pills that were confirmed to be oxycodone and hydrocodone in addition to two firearms and $300,000 believed to be drug proceeds.

According to prosecutors, Heifner continued to sell drugs after being released on bond following a February 2020 indictment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In July of 2021, authorities said they made controlled purchases from Heifner. Officials said the pills purchased were also fentanyl that appeared to be oxycodone. Heifner was then taken into custody until his trial.

In a superseding indictment in February of 2023, Heifner was charged with six counts related to the distribution of Schedule II substances, including fentanyl and oxycodone, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

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