Who is Jimmy Stephens? Arkansas State Police arrests Johnson County Sheriff for possession of drugs and guns
VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS: Arkansas State Police officers arrested Johnson County Sheriff on felony charges during a traffic stop on Saturday, December 3, 2022, for illegally possessing a controlled substance in Crawford County. According to a spokesman for the Arkansas State Police, Jimmy Stephens was checked into the Crawford County Detention Center on Saturday, December 3 night, at 8:46 pm, and was freed later after he posted a $25,000 bail.
During a traffic stop, Arkansas State Police troopers discovered Stephens in possession of guns and drugs, according to ASP spokesperson Bill Sadler. Sadler stated, "Arkansas State Police conducted a traffic stop earlier today and arrested Sheriff Stephens on charges of simultaneous possession of firearms and drugs."
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According to Sadler, the traffic stop occurred in the southbound lanes of US 71 in Crawford County. There were no further details available at the time. Republican Charles "Buddy" Beaver received 38% of the vote, while Stephens, who was first elected sheriff in 2019 and reelected in May, received 62% of the vote.
In a similar incident in Philadelphia, a sheriff's deputy was recently arrested and was charged by Criminal Complaint with firearms trafficking and selling firearms. Samir Ahmad, 29, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged with firearms trafficking and selling firearms to a person in violation of federal law. This accusation stems from the sale of two semi-automatic pistols to a confidential informant while Ahmad was working as a deputy sheriff for the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office.
According to court records, Ahmad started working for the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office in February 2018 as a deputy sheriff. When Ahmad was a deputy sheriff and a sworn member of the police force in October 2022, he is accused of selling two semi-automatic pistols and ammunition to a secret informant. The informant warned Ahmad that if he were found in possession of a gun, he may "get deported" because he was living in the country illegally. Ahmad merely replied, as described in the Criminal Complaint, "You don't got to worry about none of that."
The sale of the weapons brought in $3,000 for the defendant. Ahmad lost his job with the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office on October 19, 2022, and federal agents arrested him, as per the United States Department of Justice.
“As alleged, Samir Ahmad abused his authority – to the greatest extent possible – as a sworn law enforcement officer,” said US Attorney Jacqueline C Romero. “The defendant was allegedly sold firearms on the street, and for the sake of putting money in his pocket, was willing to put deadly firearms into the hands of someone he knew was prohibited by law from possessing them. Working with our law enforcement partners, we are doing all that we can to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the violence,” Romero added.