Jacksonville Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine

LITTLE ROCK-Jena Marie Osborn, a multi-convicted felon, who is currently serving a state prison sentence for possession of drug paraphernalia, will spend 240 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after completion of the state sentence. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was recently handed down on April 1, 2026, by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.

On November 4, 2025, a one-count Information was filed charging Osborn, 46, of Jacksonville, with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Osborn pleaded guilty on November 4, 2025, to the count in the Information. Judge Moody also sentenced Osborn to five years' supervised release. On July 14, 2025, Osborn was sentenced to 60 months in state prison and will begin her federal sentence at the completion of the state sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

In May 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) utilized a confidential source (CS) to infiltrate a large-scale methamphetamine distributor. An investigation revealed that an unknown female, later identified as Osborn, agreed to sell large quantities of methamphetamine to the CS. The DEA conducted controlled buys from Osborn on two separate occasions with Osborn selling the CS over a pound of methamphetamine each time.

On June 5, 2025, DEA planned another controlled buy of over a pound of methamphetamine from Osborn. Through ariel surveillance, agents observed Osborn leave the suspected stash house carrying a large bag of suspected narcotics and get into a vehicle she had previously been seen in during the investigation. A short time later, deputies from the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on Osborn's vehicle. During the stop, a K9 was deployed who conducted a free air sniff on the vehicle. After the K9 alerted to the vehicle, deputies searched the vehicle and located several bags of suspected methamphetamine. The DEA lab confirmed the bags contained a total of 568.8 grams of methamphetamine.

Osborn has at least two prior convictions for serious drug offenses and is classified as a career offender and is therefore subject to an enhanced sentence. In addition to Osborn's previous state conviction for possession of drug paraphernalia, Osborn has felony convictions for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture, possession of firearm by certain persons, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, maintaining a drug premises, exposing a child to methamphetamine, exposing a child to a chemical substance, criminal attempt to manufacture methamphetamine, and fleeing.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA with assistance from the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Reese Lancaster.

# # #

Additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar

X (formerly known as Twitter):

@USAO_EDAR Links to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link.