Russellville man gets 22 years in federal prison for methamphetamine

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A Russellville man will spend 22 years in federal prison after a decision in Little Rock federal court.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas said 59-year-old Larry Douglas Cossey was sentenced on Monday. The spokesperson said that Cossey’s sentence was enhanced due to his status as a career criminal, including previous drug trafficking and felon in possession of a firearm convictions.

The judge also sentenced Cossey to five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Officials said Cossey was indicted by a grand jury in June 2024 on methamphetamine distribution, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In February, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Authorities said they were investigating drug trafficking in the Russellville area when Cossey sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant twice in January 2023. Later, a traffic stop by Russellville police in April 2023 led to police finding marijuana, $13,108 in cash, 33 suspected ecstasy pills and a safe holding 399 grams of methamphetamine in a car Crossey was driving.

A second traffic stop in June 2023 by Russellville police found methamphetamine, a pistol, marijuana and $3,124 in cash in a car Cossey was driving.

Officials said the investigation was made by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Pope County Sheriff’s Office, Russellville Police Department and the 5th Judicial Drug Task Force.