Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Coralville woman has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a drug trafficking charge. Ashley Crystal Wachs, 36, admitted to possessing and intending to distribute controlled substances following her arrest in September 2024.
According to court documents, Wachs was responsible for transporting thousands of fentanyl pills from Seattle, Washington, into Coralville and nearby areas. Law enforcement officials stopped her vehicle on September 4, 2024, seizing over 250 grams of fentanyl, nearly 110 grams of flurofentanyl, and approximately 72 grams of methamphetamine. During her plea hearing, Wachs acknowledged that she intended to distribute most of the drugs found in her possession.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Wachs in Cedar Rapids to 72 months’ imprisonment. She will also serve a three-year term of supervised release after completing her prison sentence. Federal law does not allow parole.
Wachs is currently held by the United States Marshal’s Service until she is transferred to a federal prison facility.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jared Manternach and investigated by the Johnson County Drug Task Force and Iowa State Patrol.
“Ashley Crystal Wachs…was responsible for the transportation of thousands of fentanyl pills from Seattle, Washington, into Coralville and the surrounding areas, where she distributed the fentanyl pills,” according to information provided during the plea agreement.
