A long-running drug case connected to a white supremacist gang in Pope County is nearing its end. On Wednesday, the final person charged—Troy "Tricky" Loadholdt, 43, of Russellville—pleaded guilty to helping distribute large amounts of methamphetamine.
Loadholdt had been missing since 2017 but was arrested in Los Angeles in 2024. He admitted to working with others to ship over 100 pounds of meth from California to Arkansas, using FedEx and sending drug money back in cash.
This case, called Operation: To the Dirt, began in 2016 and targeted the New Aryan Empire, a gang started in Pope County. The investigation led to charges against over 50 people. Most of them have already pleaded guilty or been sentenced, with some receiving long prison terms—including one gang leader now held in the nation's highest-security federal prison.
Loadholdt could face 10 years to life in prison. A sentencing date will be set after a full investigation report is completed.