A 32-year-old Salem woman has been sentenced to 72 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in August to a three-count federal indictment.
Jennifer Branson was sentenced to 60 months in prison for both possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (methamphetamine and heroin). The two terms will be served concurrently, while the third count of conspiracy to possess contraband in prison resulted in a 12-month term that will be served consecutively to the other two. While a fine was waived, Brannon was ordered to pay a $300 special assessment. She was ruled unable, due to her financial condition, to be able to pay the cost of her incarceration.
A co-defendant, Tyrone Etheridge, is currently scheduled to go on trial on January 17th.
A stipulation of facts has provided further details on what led to the arrest of the two.
Branson was initially taken into custody on an outstanding warrant on October 13th of last year in the 900 block of Cormick Street where Etheridge lived in a camper. After receiving a search warrant for the camper, 118 grams of methamphetamine, 86 suspected fentanyl capsules, and several miscellaneous pills were located. Other drug paraphernalia was reportedly found around the camper. Branson reportedly waived her Miranda warnings and admitted the two knew the drugs were there and both admitted dealing drugs in the past.
The second indictment dealt with a search warrant issued on the home Branson and Etheridge shared in April 2020 on Marvin Street in Central City. The Marion County Sheriff’s Department received a search warrant for the home while looking for a stolen firearm. Two stolen guns were reportedly found along with six grams of meth, 11 packaged foils with 10 grams of heroin, along with other heroin and meth as well as ammunition.
The third indictment was filed later when Etheridge is accused of having several phone calls with Branson when he asked her to send suboxone to him while he was being held in the Clinton County Jail. She later sent a letter to Etheridge that contained several orange squares commonly known as Suboxone which is a low-dose opioid prescription used by medical professionals to help addicts wean from opioids. Suboxone was a prohibited item in the jail.
