Two Fort Smith men convicted in separate fentanyl cases

FORT SMITH — Two Fort Smith men were sentenced to prison Wednesday on fentanyl-related charges.

A news release from the Fort Smith Police Department says Orlando Salas, 20, of 3621 Birnie Ave. in Fort Smith, was arrested Feb. 14 and charged with two counts of trafficking fentanyl and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Salas pleaded guilty to the charges Wednesday as part of a plea agreement and was sentenced by Sebastian County Circuit Judge Stephen Tabor to 32 years in prison in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, with 18 additional years suspended.

In another case, Devonta Hoes, 27, 2513 Osage St. in Fort Smith, was arrested Feb. 6 and charged with trafficking fentanyl, delivery of fentanyl, simultaneous possession of firearms and drugs and tampering of evidence.

As part of a plea deal in which prosecutors dropped the trafficking charge, Hoes pleaded guilty Wednesday and was sentenced by Tabor to 28 years in prison for the fentanyl delivery and possession charges. , with 12 years suspended for each count. He was also sentenced to six years in prison for forgery.

Synthetic opioids such as fentanyl have been implicated in more than 73,800 overdose deaths in 2022, according to the CDC.

Fentanyl is also added to other substances, such as heroin, antidepressants and cocaine, the police department statement said.