KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A woman from Ottawa, Kan., has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for her role in a drug trafficking ring tied to the death of a man who died from taking a mixture of prescription drugs, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Tamara Ledom, 37, Ottawa, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone, morphine and methamphetamine resulting in the death of a user.
In her plea, she admitted that from Nov. 1, 2007 through Feb. 28, 2012, she was a member of a drug trafficking ring headed by co-defendant Connie Edwards that distributed prescription drugs and other controlled substances in Franklin County, Kan.
On May 10, 2009, a victim who bought drugs from the Edwards' organization, was found unconscious in the living room of his mother's home. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed that he died from taking a toxic combination of methadone, hydrocodone and carisoprodol.
Investigators learned that the afternoon before the victim died he purchased hydrocodone, methadone and carisprodal from Ledom and Edwards at Edwards’ residence in Ottawa. Ledom had crushed prescription pills into a powder which was sold to Powell as methamphetamine. Later that evening, the victim purchased prescription pills. Then he injected the substance he believed was methamphetamine - and took the pills - creating a toxic combination that caused his death.
Investigators also documented other incidents in which Ledom sold controlled substances.
Co-defendants include:
Connie Edwards, who was sentenced to 300 months
Brittany Edwards, 20, Ottawa, Kan., who is set for sentencing June 3.
Shirley Price, 45, Ottawa, Kan., who is set for sentencing June 10.
Dustin Price, 24, Ottawa, Kan., who is set for sentencing June 10.
Joel Keith Price, 55, Ottawa, Kan., who is set for sentencing June 10.
Morgan Price, 22, Ottawa, Kan., who was sentenced to 5 years probation with 6 months in the halfway house.
Brandi Bivens, 31, Ottawa, Kan., who is set for sentencing Aug. 19.
Angela Mitchell, 36, Ottawa, Kan., who is set for sentencing July 8.
Florence Edwards, 39, Ottawa, Kan., who was sentenced to 12 months probation.
Grissom commended the Franklin County Drug Task Force, the Ottawa Police Department, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken for their work on the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
