South Carolina women sentenced for fentanyl distribution

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Peggy Louise Farrington and Jacqueline Lee Weigland, both of Galivants Ferry, South Carolina, were sentenced today for distributing fentanyl, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Farrington, age 54, was sentenced to 24 months incarceration. Weigland, age 58, was sentenced to 57 months incarceration. Each pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl” in April 2019. The women admitted to possessing fentanyl in January 2019 in Berkeley County.

These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) under the Attorney General-led Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS)/Special Operations Division (SOD) Project Clean Sweep.  This initiative seeks to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids in “hot spot” areas previously identified by the Attorney General of the United States, thereby reducing drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths, and identify wholesale distribution networks and sources of supply operating nationally and internationally. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Martinsburg Police Department investigated.

Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.