DENVER
A federal judge sentenced a drug dealer who trafficked in methamphetamine to 20 years in prison.
U.S. District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore sentenced Carol Hawley of Denver, Colorado, on Monday after she was convicted of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual meth and Possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual meth.
“Methamphetamine is a highly addictive, harmful drug, and destroys users, their families and harms the community in which they live,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “This severe sentence, handed down to a repeat drug trafficking offender, reflects our efforts to keep the community safe from this scourge.”
Hawley, along with six others, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on May 19, 2014.
The grand jury returned a superseding indictment on September 23, 2014. She was convicted on October 9 following a 5-day jury trial.
According to the facts presented to the jury during trial, this is what happened:
In March 2013, agents and officers of the MGTF were conducting a long-term drug trafficking investigation, focusing on an organization run by Debbi Martinez, a/k/a “Payasa.”
The investigation revealed that Martinez purchased distribution-sized quantities of methamphetamine for re-sale to various individuals within the Denver metropolitan area, law enforcement officials said.
One of her sources of supply included a large-scale drug trafficker whose Mexican-based drug trafficking organization.
During the investigation, it was determined that after a series of phone calls between Martinez called Hawley,
Defendant Hawley obtained money and purchased methamphetamine to be sold in Fort Collins.
While Hawley was on her way to Fort Collins with the methamphetamine, Metro Gang Task Force officers requested assistance from the Denver Police Department in performing a traffic stop of Hawley.
Early morning of March 13, 2013, Denver officers observed a traffic violation, and thus pulled Hawley’s vehicle over.
The only identification Hawley had was able to produce to law enforcement was her Colorado Department of Correction identification card. Denver police called for a drug K-9, and the Aurora Police Department responded with the K-9. After the dog alerted to the vehicle, investigators searched the vehicle.
During the search officers recovered a zippered purse which contained nearly half-a-pound of 100 percent pure methamphetamine. Officers also recovered an additional 3.17 grams of methamphetamine, 18.3 grams of MSM, an empty bottle of prescription pills, a sheet of apparent pseudoephedrine, a marijuana pipe, and drug paraphernalia.
Hawley was subsequently arrested. The passenger, who was the registered owner of the vehicle Hawley was driving, was released.
“Trafficking in methamphetamines is a very serious crime which erodes the basic fabric of our society,” said FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ravenelle. “We are fortunate to be able to investigate and prosecute these individuals in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA’s Strike Force.”