WEST VIRGINIA — A Chicago woman was sentenced Thursday to 40 years in prison in Fayette County Circuit Court for her role in a drug trafficking organization that operated in the county, 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 after previously being convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver more than five grams but less than 50 grams of methamphetamine, a felony offense.
According to prosecutors, Tankson’s sentence was doubled because of a prior federal drug-related felony conviction. She must serve 10 years before becoming eligible for parole.
In handing down the sentence, Fast cited the significant harm caused to Fayette County and its residents by drug trafficking activity.
Authorities said the Central Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force launched an investigation in June 2021 into a major drug trafficking organization operating primarily in Fayette County. Investigators identified Heather Hewitt as the leader of the organization.
Between August and November 2021, task force officers used a confidential informant to conduct 20 controlled purchases of methamphetamine and fentanyl from the organization. Investigators said the buys totaled approximately three ounces of fentanyl and 12 ounces of methamphetamine.
At the conclusion of the investigation, law enforcement officers executed searches that resulted in the seizure of more than one pound of fentanyl, nearly two pounds of methamphetamine and about three ounces of cocaine. Authorities also seized $249,872 in cash from multiple locations connected to the organization.
Prosecutors said Tankson traveled from the Chicago area to West Virginia to collect money from Hewitt for drug purchases. She then transported the money back to the organization’s source of supply in the Chicago area, where drugs were shipped to West Virginia through the U.S. Postal Service and FedEx.
Investigators also recovered ledgers from Hewitt’s residence that allegedly documented the distribution of more than 14 pounds of controlled substances through the trafficking network.
According to prosecutors, Tankson was directly involved in transporting large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine into West Virginia and was the final member of the organization to be prosecuted.
The case was investigated by the Central Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and prosecuted by Ciliberti.
