A Chicago woman was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Thursday in Fayette Area Circuit Court for her involvement in a drug trafficking network that operated in the area, according to Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Ciliberti Jr.
Krystal A. Tankson, 41, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced May 21 by Circuit Judge Thomas K. Fast. She had previously been convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to supply more than five grams but less than 50 grams of methamphetamine, a felony.
According to prosecutors, Tankson’s sentence was increased due to a past federal drug-related felony conviction. She must serve ten years before being eligible for parole.
Fast cited the significant harm caused by drug trafficking activity in Fayette County and its residents when he imposed the sentence.
According to authorities, the Central Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force began an investigation into a massive drug trafficking operation based primarily in Fayette County in June 2021. Investigators identified Heather Hewitt as the organization’s leader.
From August to November 2021, task force investigators used a confidential informant to make 20 controlled purchases of methamphetamine and fentanyl from the organization. The purchases totaled about three ounces of fentanyl and twelve ounces of methamphetamine, according to investigators.
Following the investigation, law enforcement authorities conducted searches that resulted in the recovery of more than one pound of fentanyl, nearly two pounds of methamphetamine, and approximately three ounces of cocaine. Authorities also confiscated $249,872 in cash from numerous locations associated with the organization.
Prosecutors claim Tankson flew from the Chicago area to West Virginia to collect money from Hewitt for drug transactions. She then returned the money to the organization’s source of supplies in the Chicago region, where drugs were transferred to West Virginia via the United States Postal Service and FedEx.
Investigators reportedly discovered ledgers at Hewitt’s home that allegedly tracked the distribution of over 14 pounds of controlled narcotics via the trafficking network.
According to authorities, Tankson was personally involved in smuggling huge amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into West Virginia, and he was the organization’s penultimate member to face charges.
The Central Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force investigated the case, and Ciliberti prosecuted it.
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