A Casper woman will spend years in prison for helping distribute methamphetamine in the Natrona County area.

Tiffany Quiroz was sentenced Tuesday in Natrona County District Court to a term of 42-66 months imprisonment for one count of conspiracy to deliver meth. She pleaded guilty in September as part of a plea agreement, which established a four- to six-year cap on the state's sentencing recommendation.

"The methamphetamine problem in this community is absolutely devastating," District Judge Thomas Sullins told Quiroz before sentencing her.

Court documents say Quiroz, who went by the nickname "Teardrop," was arrested following an investigation into a multi-state drug trafficking organization.

In early April, an undercover agent with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation worked with a confidential informant to conduct a controlled buy of over three grams of methamphetamine from one of Quiroz's co-conspirators. The informant and the undercover agent were able to verify that Quiroz facilitated the sale, and the drug deal occurred at Quiroz's home while Quiroz was present.

Later that month, special agents interviewed a woman who said Quiroz was using and selling meth in Bar Nunn. The two used meth together on occasion.

After reading text messages between Quiroz and co-conspirators which indicated ongoing drug distribution, special agents interviewed Quiroz on May 31.

During that interview, Quiroz admitted to "middling" or setting up about 30 drug deals for another person. She said she would get most of her meth from that person and distribute it to other people in the Natrona County area.

During Tuesday's sentencing hearing, Assistant District Attorney Trevor Schenk delved into Quiroz's criminal history. In 2012, Schenk said, Quiroz pleaded guilty to a meth conspiracy charge and was sentenced to three and a half to six years in prison.

Quiroz was paroled on November 2015 and was discharged from parole in March 2016.

"It was just over six months before she was involved in exactly the same criminal behavior that got her sent to the penitentiary the first time," Schenk told Sullins. He added that he believes Quiroz was facilitating drug deals in order to obtain meth for her own personal use.

"Those that deal methamphetamine in our community need to be punished and subject to sentences as an example to others and removal from society for the protection of the public," Judge Sullins told Quiroz.

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