CAPE GIRARDEAU — A Poplar Bluff woman was sentenced to more than two years in federal prison Wednesday afternoon on multiple drug-related offenses.
Kyra R. Taylor was sentenced to 30 months in prison on the felonies of aiding and abetting in the distribution of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute (two counts), possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (two counts) and distribution of heroin by U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hahn.
An additional count of distribution of heroin was dismissed by the government at the time of Taylor’s sentencing.
According to the plea agreement signed by Taylor at the time of her June plea, officers with the SEMO Drug Task Force were using a confidential informant (CI) to attempt to purchase heroin from Taylor’s codefendant, Quinton Williams, on Sept. 6, 2018.
“The CI called Williams on Williams’ cellphone and requested to purchase 2 grams of heroin,” the plea agreement further says. “Williams replied that he only had a gram and a half of heroin to sell and that he would have to call his supplier to get more.”
The CI reportedly waited a while, then again called Williams’ cellphone. His call reportedly was answered by Taylor.
“Taylor stated that the price was $180 per gram,” the plea agreement further says. “(She) asked the CI how much heroin the CI wanted. The CI stated that they wanted 2 grams of heroin for $360.”
The plea agreement says Taylor told the CI she would have to order the heroin, and Williams would handle the transaction.
The CI drove to a Poplar Bluff residence, where he reportedly met Williams and gave him $360.
“Williams then gave the CI a substance wrapped in two plastic Baggies,” the plea agreement says.
The substance was turned over to officers and subsequently tested at a Missouri State Highway Patrol crime laboratory.
One bag reportedly contained .42 grams of heroin, while the other contained 1.42 grams of Fentanyl.
The plea agreement further says on April 7, 2018, patrol Trooper Chance Berry stopped a vehicle in Butler County for an expired license plate. The vehicle’s driver was identified as Williams, and Taylor was a passenger.
“During a subsequent search of the vehicle, the officer found marijuana, an electronic scale and other drug paraphernalia,” the plea agreement says. “Taylor told the officer that the residue on the electronic scale was most likely heroin.”
Taylor was arrested and taken to the Butler County jail.
“When Taylor changed into her jail clothing, the jailers discovered that (she) had some Baggies of controlled substances in her clothing,” the plea agreement said.
When tested at a patrol lab, four of the bags were found to contain 13.36 grams of methamphetamine and another bag contained .39 grams of heroin.
With her plea, Taylor admitted she knew the bags contained meth and heroin, and she had intended to distribute both substances to others.
On Sept. 24, 2018, the plea agreement says, a SEMO Drug Task Force officer used a CI to attempt to purchase a half gram of heroin from Taylor.
Taylor and the CI reportedly agreed on a price of $100.
“The CI went to Taylor’s home and gave (her) $100 in cash,” the plea agreement says. “Taylor then gave the CI a plastic Baggie containing a substance.”
When tested, the substance reportedly was found to contain .32 grams of heroin.
The plea agreement further says on Nov. 14, drug task force officers made contact with Taylor in a Poplar Bluff motel room.
“During the search, the officers found and seized two Baggies from the refrigerator in the room,” the plea agreement says.
When tested at a patrol lab, one bag reportedly contained 36 grams of heroin, and the other contained 28 grams of meth.
When interviewed, Taylor first told officers she had been given the drugs to hold, but later reported Williams had brought the substances to the room.
With her plea, Taylor admitted she knew the substances in the motel room were heroin and meth, and it was her intention to “transfer those substances to another person.”
Williams also has pleaded guilty to the charges of aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin and distribution of heroin (two counts).
He is to be sentenced Oct. 16.
At that time, Williams faces up to 20 years in prison on each of his charges and up to a $1 million fine, followed not less than a three-year period of supervised release.