Twyla Dawn Basil, a 46-year-old resident of Bonners Ferry, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Her sentence comes after she was found guilty of distributing fentanyl that led to serious bodily injury and death. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also mandated that Basil pay restitution to the victim's family. Following her prison term, Basil will serve an additional three years under supervised release.

The case stems from an incident on October 28, 2022, when an inmate at the Boundary County Jail was discovered unconscious in her cell. Despite medical efforts, the inmate died. A toxicology report confirmed a lethal dose of fentanyl in her system, with the coroner attributing the death to a fentanyl overdose.

An investigation revealed that Basil had supplied the victim with fentanyl while both were in custody. Basil had smuggled the drug into the facility after being arrested for driving under its influence.

Fentanyl is known for its potency, being 50-100 times stronger than morphine. While it is used medically for severe pain management, illegal variants have caused numerous overdoses across the United States. Idaho has experienced a significant rise in such cases due to illicitly manufactured pills resembling prescription medications like oxycodone and hydrocodone.

U.S. Attorney Hurwit emphasized the severity of fentanyl-related deaths: "No matter the location or the circumstances, any fentanyl-caused death is an intolerable tragedy." He noted ongoing efforts to train law enforcement for better investigation and prosecution of these cases.

Captain Paul Berger of ISP District 1 reiterated this commitment: "This case underscores the tragic consequences of fentanyl trafficking and highlights the critical need for ongoing collaboration between agencies."

The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including Idaho State Police and North Idaho Narcotics Enforcement Taskforce (NINE), with Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryce Ellsworth prosecuting.

The NINE Task Force consists of various law enforcement bodies working together against drug trafficking in North Idaho.