Washington, Iowa Woman Sentenced to 20 years Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Methadone Resulting in Death and Serious Bodily Injury
Davenport, IA - On April 28, 2008, Paula Lois Swank, 54, was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment, having previously pled to conspiracy to distribute methadone resulting in death and serious bodily injury, announced United States Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker. United States District Judge John A. Jarvey also ordered Swank to serve five years on supervised release following imprisonment, and an assessment of $100 to the Crime Victim Fund. On August 10th, 2006, the Washington Police Department received a report of a fatal overdose in Washington, Iowa. An investigation into the death, led to the conclusion that the cause of death was mixed drug poisoning. The investigation revealed that the co-conspirator had received methadone pills from Swank and then distributed them to the deceased.
On August 14, 2006, Iowa City police officers were notified of an overdose. The victim was admitted to the hospital where she was treated for an overdose that included methadone. Again, the co-conspirator obtained methadone pills from Swank and then provided the pills to the victim.
On August 21, 2006 and August 29, 2006, Swank distributed over 100 methadone pills to an undercover agent working with the Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Washington Police Department, Iowa City Police Department, Johnson County Drug Task Force, Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa prosecuted the case.