Suspected Drug Dealer Says FedEx Delivered His Drugs

Jason William Laden age 43 of Batesville was arrested earlier in December along with two other suspects in an undercover drug sting by local and state authorities. On Monday December 23rd Laden was interviewed by both Arkansas State Police and 16th Judicial Drug Task Force authorities about his involvement in the drug trade. Laden who is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver/distribute along with other charges freely admitted he has been selling methamphetamines for an estimated 20 years. He also allegedly told investigators that the meth he was caught with on December 18th was purchased from a “middle man” in California and shipped via FedEx. Laden said the shipment was approximately 2 1/2 pounds, authorities recovered 1 1/2 pounds of that shipment. The meth was found hidden on Laden’s property and discovered during a search. Laden did not identify the “middle man” from California claiming he did not know his or her identity.Jason William Laden was arrested and taken to the Independence County Jail, he appeared before Judge Chaney Taylor for a bond hearing, his bond was set at $250,000.