LITTLE ROCK—A Newport man has been sentenced to ten years in prison for possession of an unregistered firearm after attempting to sell pipe bombs.
Darius Balentine, 28, was sentenced on Thursday by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky. His codefendant, Wayne Riley, 27, of Pleasant Plains, was sentenced in November and also received the statutory maximum sentence of ten years.
According to a release from the U.S. Attorney Eastern District of Arkansas, officers conducted a home visit at Balentine’s residence in September 2020. Balentine was a convicted felon on active parole supervision with a search waiver on file, and officers had learned that he was in possession of a firearm. While searching the home, officers located a .380-caliber pistol and two CO2 bottles containing gunpowder and roofing nails, equipped with fuses and designed as explosive devices.
The U.S. Attorney’s office said multiple witnesses confirmed the explosives belonged to Riley, who had dropped them off at Balentine’s home a few days prior. Investigators obtained text messages in which Riley stated he had ten pipe bombs and wanted to sell them for $100 each or $800 for all ten.
Balentine and Riley were indicted for possession of the pipe bombs in July 2021. Balentine was also charged with being a felon in possession of the .380-caliber pistol. Riley pleaded guilty in June 2022, and Balentine pleaded guilty two months later. In addition to the sentence of ten years imprisonment, which is the maximum allowed by law, both Balentine and Riley will serve three years of supervised release after their terms of incarceration.
This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Newport Police Department; Jackson County Sheriff’s Office; Arkansas State Police; and Arkansas Department of Community Corrections. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Crews.
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5.
