Little Rock, Arkansas – A Little Rock man with a lengthy criminal history and three previous stays in federal prison has been sentenced to another 10 years behind bars after pleading guilty to illegally possessing multiple firearms.
Tyjuan Townsend, 47, was sentenced Thursday, September 3, 2026, to 120 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms. United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Jonathan D. Ross announced the sentence, which was imposed by U.S. District Judge Brian S. Miller.
Judge Miller also ordered Townsend to serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison term. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole.
Townsend pleaded guilty on April 28, 2026, to being a felon in possession of firearms. His 10 year prison sentence included enhancements related to the drugs authorities found during the investigation.
Investigation began with reports of methamphetamine trafficking
The case developed after Little Rock Police Department detectives received information from several sources in late 2022 that Townsend was allegedly distributing methamphetamine in pound quantities and carrying firearms.
Investigators continued looking into the suspected activity. On July 27, 2023, Little Rock police officers arranged a controlled purchase in which a confidential informant bought methamphetamine from Townsend.
Following that transaction, investigators obtained a warrant to search Townsend’s residence.
When officers with the Little Rock Police Department and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration carried out the warrant, they discovered four firearms inside Townsend’s bedroom.
The weapons included a Glock .40 caliber firearm, a HI Point 9mm firearm with a defaced serial number, a Ruger .40 caliber firearm and a Smith & Wesson 9mm firearm.
Authorities also searched the kitchen, where they discovered significant quantities of three different drugs. Investigators reported finding approximately 219 grams of methamphetamine, 89 grams of fentanyl and 228 grams of cocaine.
A federal grand jury later indicted Townsend on August 3, 2025. The five count indictment accused him of being a felon in possession of firearms, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possessing cocaine with intent to distribute and possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute.
Townsend ultimately admitted to the felon in possession of firearms offense, leading to his April 2026 guilty plea and subsequent 120 month sentence.
Previous convictions include drug and weapons offenses
Federal prosecutors also detailed Townsend’s extensive criminal record, which includes several felony convictions.
In 2009, Townsend was convicted in the Eastern District of Arkansas of cocaine possession following multiple previous drug felonies. His second federal conviction in the same district involved conspiracy to tamper with a witness.
His record also includes three separate felony convictions for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and another felony conviction for cocaine possession.
Townsend additionally has two misdemeanor convictions for third degree domestic battery.
Another felony conviction involved criminal attempt furnishing, possessing or using prohibited articles while Townsend was incarcerated at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility.
His third previous federal conviction came from the Eastern District of Texas, where he was convicted of possessing a prohibited object described as a weapon or knife while he was an inmate.
Because of those previous felony convictions, Townsend was legally prohibited from possessing firearms when investigators searched his Little Rock residence.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the Little Rock Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas prosecuted the case.
With the latest sentence, Townsend will serve another decade in federal prison, followed by three years under federal supervision.
