Sixteen-Time Waterloo Felon Sentenced to Over Two Decades in Federal Prison for Distributing Fatal Dose of Fentanyl

A woman who distributed a mixture of fentanyl, heroin, and xylazine that caused an overdose death was sentenced April 6, 2026, to 21 years in federal prison.

Bridgette Marie Washington, age 47, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 22, 2025, guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death.

Court records show that between July 2022 and January 2023, Washington and two other individuals sold methamphetamine, powder heroin, and M-30 pills which contained fentanyl. Washington sold drugs that led to four non-fatal overdoses in September, November, and December 2022. On January 2, 2023, Washington sold substances she marketed as "A1" drugs (meaning that they were potent) to multiple customers. Each person who used the drugs Washington sold on that day lost consciousness. One individual who used some of the drugs died as a result of using them. Washington had an extensive criminal history, including convictions for 15 felony offenses prior to the conduct that led to her federal charge.

Washington was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Washington was sentenced to 252 months' imprisonment. She must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Washington is being held in the United States Marshal's custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff's Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, the Bremer County Sheriff's Department, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Nagin and Dan Chatham.

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.plLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

The case file number is 25-CR-02014-CJW-MAR.

Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.