A Saline County mother and daughter were convicted of felony drug and death charges on Thursday, September 11, 2025 in Federal court, according to a release from the United States Attorney’s Office. Read more below.
CONVICTION
On Wednesday, a federal jury convicted two Hensley, Arkansas residents of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl that caused a death. The jury also convicted April Adams, age 62, of distribution of methamphetamine, and her daughter, Amber Church, age 38, of distribution of fentanyl. Following a three-day trial and after just over four hours of deliberation, the jury convicted both Church and Adams on all charges.
INDICTMENT
On April 2, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against the women. Both were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. Church was also charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, and Adams was also charged with distribution of methamphetamine.
JUDGE & JURY
The jury returned the verdict to United States District Court Judge James M. Moody, Jr., who will sentence Adams and Church at a later date. The two will remain in federal custody while they await sentencing. They both face a statutory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on the fentanyl charges related to the death. Adams also faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years on the methamphetamine charge.
EVIDENCE
The evidence presented at trial showed that on April 16, 2023, law enforcement officers from the Saline County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence on Crab Apple Circle in reference to multiple overdoses. Officers located four individuals who overdosed, according to their statements. After medical personnel administered Narcan, three individuals survived, but one individual died at the scene.
TRIAL & TESTIMONY
During the trial, two witnesses who survived overdoses testified that after arriving at the residence, Adams offered them methamphetamine, along with Church and the victim who died.
After smoking the methamphetamine, Church asked Adams if she could provide to the group what Church said was the “cocaine” that Adams had in her room. Church then got the substance from Adams’ room and provided it to the group, using some herself. According to court records, the substance was actually fentanyl.
Nearly immediately after ingesting the fentanyl the four individuals who used the drug began passing out, including Church. Adams, who did not use the substance, waited approximately 45 minutes before notifying anyone about the overdoses, and then called a friend rather than emergency services.
PENALTIES
The drug offenses carry additional penalties of up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release.
OPERATION
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
LAW AGENCIES
The investigation was conducted by the Saline County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Edward Walker and Jordan Crews prosecuted the case.
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