Des Moines Sun

A Las Vegas woman, Alica Marie Hawkins, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison following charges of possession with intent to distribute a fentanyl-laden substance, which resulted in an overdose death. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa.

The incident took place in the fall of 2023, when Hawkins, aged 34, was recognized as a supplier of fentanyl pills within the Southern District of Iowa. On September 11, 2023, she distributed a fentanyl mixture to an individual in Jefferson, Iowa, leading to the person's death from an overdose. Court documents reveal that Hawkins failed to provide aid, attempted to hide her involvement, and subsequently returned to Nevada during the ongoing investigation.

Upon completion of her prison sentence, Hawkins will undergo a five-year period of supervised release. It's important to note that the federal system does not offer parole.

The case was jointly investigated by the Jefferson Police Department and Des Moines Police Department. The role of fentanyl in such incidents is particularly concerning, as it is now the primary cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Many counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl closely resemble legitimate pharmaceuticals but contain potentially deadly dosages of fentanyl. By 2023, accidental overdoses had become the leading cause of death for residents under 40 in 37 states. In Iowa, the number of opioid-related deaths hit a record high of 258 in 2021, reflecting a 64% increase compared to 2019, before decreasing by 8% in 2022.