Las Vegas Woman Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Distribution

DES MOINES, Iowa - A Las Vegas, Nevada woman was sentenced today to five years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance containing fentanyl that led to an overdose death.

According to public court documents, in the fall of 2023, Alica Marie Hawkins, 34, was identified as a source of supply of fentanyl pills in the Southern District of Iowa. On September 11, 2023, Hawkins distributed a fentanyl mixture to the victim in Jefferson, Iowa. The victim died due to an overdose from the fentanyl mixture. Hawkins did not render aid to the victim, tried to conceal any involvement, and eventually returned to Nevada during the investigation.

After completing her term of imprisonment, Hawkins will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Jefferson Police Department and Des Moines Police Department.

Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. In 2023, accidental overdose was the number one cause of death in 37 states for residents under 40 years old. https://stateline.org/2023/09/05/death-rates-for-people-under-40-have-skyrocketed-blame-fentanyl/. In Iowa, opioid-related deaths reached a record high 258 in 2021, up 64% compared with 2019, and decreased 8% in 2022. https://hhs.iowa.gov/media/11935/download.