Stephanie Marie Terrell, a 39-year-old resident of Batavia, Ohio, was sentenced on April 23 to 78 months in prison for her involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning handed down the sentence after Terrell pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the attempted possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address drug-related crimes and maintain community safety. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky enforces federal laws and maintains community safety through prosecutions and partnerships. The office handles civil cases and collaborates with agencies to address issues like elder abuse and drug prevention. It originated with the Judiciary Act of 1789, according to the official website.
According to court documents, law enforcement intercepted a package containing over 220 grams of methamphetamine that had been mailed from Houston, Texas, to a residence in Covington, Kentucky. On May 27, 2025, officers conducted a controlled delivery at the address where Scott Baxter retrieved the package before entering a vehicle driven by Terrell. After leaving the scene, law enforcement stopped the vehicle; Dereco Lamont Evans threw out the package before he and Terrell were detained.
Terrell admitted she knew about the drugs inside the package and facilitated its receipt on behalf of co-defendant Timothy McCay from Joseph Felix Garza in Houston. Her co-defendants received sentences ranging from time served (four days) up to more than ten years’ imprisonment. Under federal law, Terrell must serve at least eighty-five percent of her sentence before being eligible for release; she will then be under supervision for five years.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Lesley Allison from United States Postal Inspection Service; and Scott Hardcorn from Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force announced this outcome. The investigation was conducted by USPIS and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force while Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Spievack prosecuted on behalf of federal authorities.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky serves this region under direction from the Department of Justice according to its official website. The office addresses issues such as drug abuse prevention through community initiatives like Heroin Education Action Team as well as elder protection programs such as Elder Justice Task Force working alongside local agencies.
