Woman convicted of distributing drugs in El Paso County jail

EL PASO, Colo. (KRDO) – The El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPSO) announced that a woman has been convicted after distributing fentanyl in the El Paso County Jail.

EPSO says on December 31, 2023, deputies received information about the potential presence of Fentanyl at the El Paso County Jail. Officers located and recovered the drugs before they could be ingested. El Paso County Sheriff's Office detectives responded and continued the investigation.

According to EPSO, during this investigation, detectives viewed hours of video from inside the department, which showed a woman passing the suspected Fentanyl pill to another woman. The investigation was successful and allowed the person responsible to be identified.

On January 9, 2024, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office charged Wendy Sanchez, 44, with Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Contraband in the Second Degree.

On May 15, 2024, Wendy Sanchez pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to six years in prison by the Colorado Department of Corrections.

“This is another example of our efforts to reduce the bringing of illegal drugs into prisons,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “If you are in custody and found to possess dangerous drugs in our facility, we will hold you fully accountable under the law.”

“I thank my team, especially Detectives Adorador and Margurite, who worked diligently to investigate this case. At the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, we are committed to ensuring the safety of the citizens of our community, whether they are incarcerated on our streets or in our neighborhoods.