A Colorado Springs woman has been sentenced to almost 30 years in prison after being found guilty of distributing fentanyl to another inmate at the county jail, leading to the death of the recipient.
28-year-old Katariina Gibson was recently handed a 28-year prison sentence for the crime of causing death through the unlawful distribution of drugs. Additionally, she was also given an 18-month sentence for introducing contraband.
Sheriff Joe Roybal expressed his hopes that the sentencing of Gibson would serve as a strong wake-up call to anyone contemplating smuggling drugs into the El Paso County Jail. His statement was made on Monday to announce Gibson’s sentencing.
Arrest papers, which were obtained by 11 News last year, revealed that Gibson managed to smuggle fentanyl pills into the facility by concealing them inside her body. Surprisingly, she successfully passed through two body scans, a pat-down search, and even a strip search before being processed into the jail. However, it was only during the investigation into Lowrance’s death by the sheriff’s office that detectives revisited Gibson’s in-processing body scans and identified “abnormalities” within her body.
In November, Gibson was pronounced guilty, marking a significant verdict according to the sheriff’s office. Consequently, she received the maximum sentence for both charges.
Roybal’s statement emphasized the consequences of bringing illegal drugs and contraband into the facility, stating that those who choose not to participate in the drug amnesty program will be held accountable. He expressed gratitude towards his diligent staff for investigating crimes in the community, both within the jail and on the streets. Roybal also acknowledged the partnership and strong commitment of District Attorney Michael Allen in holding criminals accountable and restoring justice for victims in the 4th Judicial District of Colorado.
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