Little Rock, Arkansas – Freddie Gladney III, known as “Bankroll Freddie” in the music world, has been sentenced to 150 months in federal prison following his conviction on multiple narcotics and firearms charges. The sentencing, announced by United States Attorney Jonathan D. Ross, culminates a series of investigations into gang violence and drug trafficking throughout central Arkansas, specifically focused on a conspiracy to distribute marijuana and other narcotics in the area.
Gladney’s sentence, issued by U.S. District Judge James M. Moody Jr., reflects the seriousness of his offenses and his role as a central figure in a narcotics distribution network, which included possessing and attempting to use a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. The court also imposed a three-year supervised release period following his incarceration, and Gladney must pay a $242,000 money judgment as part of his conviction. Unlike state sentences, the federal system does not offer parole, meaning Gladney will serve the entirety of his sentence.
A Lengthy Investigation and Conspiracy Charges
Gladney, 30, originally from Helena, Arkansas, was one of the key figures in a drug trafficking conspiracy that stretched across Arkansas. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led the case, and the investigation, which spanned nearly two years, involved multiple law enforcement agencies working in collaboration. The investigation targeted two rival gangs in Arkansas’s Pine Bluff to Little Rock corridor, with Gladney being a central figure among 35 defendants indicted in the case.
The investigation led to Gladney’s indictment on May 3, 2023, in a 32-count superseding indictment that alleged he and his associates were involved in distributing significant amounts of marijuana across the state. Through wiretaps, surveillance, and other evidence, investigators gathered a comprehensive look at Gladney’s criminal activities. In addition to drug distribution charges, he was also convicted of using a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking and possessing firearms in furtherance of his crimes.
Arrest Details and Evidence
Gladney’s legal troubles intensified on April 14, 2022, when Arkansas State Police stopped him for speeding in Marion. During the traffic stop, the state trooper noted the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. When Gladney initially complied by exiting the vehicle, he quickly reentered and appeared to reach for something inside. This refusal to comply led the officer to forcibly remove him from the vehicle.
The search that followed revealed a cache of illegal items in Gladney’s truck. Authorities discovered a Romarm/Cugir Model Micro Draco 7.62x39mm firearm and a Polymer 80 Model PF940C 9mm firearm—commonly referred to as a “ghost gun.” Additionally, police found approximately 21.4 pounds of marijuana stored in a duffle bag, $33,662 in cash, and seven firearm magazines, five of which were extended and fully loaded.
These findings contributed significantly to Gladney’s conviction, with the court viewing his possession of both firearms and large quantities of cash as evidence of his involvement in high-level drug trafficking.
Gladney’s Influence and Obstruction of Justice
Gladney’s influence over his associates extended to his efforts to obstruct justice. In a wiretapped call from May 25, 2021, Gladney was recorded instructing a co-defendant to clear any incriminating items, including guns and scales used for weighing narcotics, from his Helena residence. During the intercepted conversation, Gladney urged his associate to remove all evidence before a potential police search, an action that led the court to add two additional levels to his sentencing range for obstruction of justice.
In a conversation between Gladney and his co-defendant, Gladney gave clear instructions:
Gladney: “Get everything out the house. Any guns, anything.”
Co-defendant: “Alright, let me…”
This conversation played a significant role in demonstrating Gladney’s attempts to undermine law enforcement’s investigation.
Factors Contributing to Sentence Enhancement
Judge Moody imposed a sentence exceeding the guideline range due to specific aggravating factors. Gladney’s possession of a “ghost gun” and previous criminal history contributed to the court’s decision to increase his sentence by an additional 2.5 years. The ghost gun, which had no serial number and could be easily modified for automatic firing, was considered a significant threat by the court. Additionally, testimony suggested that the gun was ready to receive a “switch” device, which could have enabled fully automatic fire, further raising concerns about its intended use.
Judge Moody also noted that Gladney was on probation from a prior drug and gun conviction in Memphis at the time of his involvement in the current case, reinforcing the court’s view of Gladney’s disregard for the law.
A Collaborative Law Enforcement Effort
Gladney’s conviction and sentencing are the result of a comprehensive effort by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The OCDETF program targets major drug traffickers, gang members, and transnational criminal organizations, employing a multi-agency approach that leverages the expertise and resources of each agency involved.
The FBI led the investigation, with support from the Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Department of Community Corrections, and police departments across multiple Arkansas cities, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, and Jonesboro. The FBI’s GETROCK Task Force, created in 2017 in response to escalating gang violence in Little Rock, played a central role in coordinating the investigation, while additional assistance came from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Arkansas National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.
This investigation marks a continued focus on dismantling organized criminal networks in Arkansas and across the United States, with a particular emphasis on those networks that contribute to the rise of gun violence and drug distribution in affected communities.
Community Safety and Accountability
Gladney’s sentence serves as a warning to those involved in gang-related and drug trafficking activities in Arkansas and beyond. By removing a significant player in the regional drug trade, law enforcement agencies aim to reduce the availability of illegal narcotics and lessen the risk of violence tied to gang rivalries in the state.
U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross emphasized the importance of continued efforts to disrupt these dangerous networks, stating, “This case reflects our commitment to targeting and dismantling the organizations that put our communities at risk. We will not relent in our mission to protect Arkansas families and neighborhoods from the influence of drugs and violent crime.”
Assistant United States Attorneys Julie Peters, Amanda Fields, and Reese Lancaster, who prosecuted the case, underscored the collaborative effort required to bring cases like Gladney’s to justice. Through the commitment of dedicated law enforcement personnel, extensive investigative work, and effective prosecution, the DOJ hopes to deter other individuals from engaging in similar criminal activities.
Gladney is set to serve his entire sentence in federal prison without the possibility of parole, underscoring the federal government’s zero-tolerance approach to serious narcotics offenses and illegal firearms possession.
