Date: June 12, 2023 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov Jackson, MS — A Byram woman was sentenced to 250 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as a concurrent sentence of 21 months for falsification of records in a federal investigation, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration. According to court documents, beginning as early August 1, 2017, and continuing until April 2019, communications between Kristy Dier and her codefendants were intercepted wherein they negotiated and conducted the sale of ice-methamphetamine throughout the state of Mississippi from as far as Aberdeen to Biloxi, Mississippi. In total, Dier is responsible for the distribution of approximately 22 pounds of ice-methamphetamine. During the conspiracy, from December 1, 2017, through December 19, 2017, Dier also elicited help from a codefendant to falsify income and business records and file the records with the Hinds County Court to obstruct the forfeiture of drug proceeds seized from Dier by law enforcement. The case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, Hinds County Sheriff's Office, Jones County Sheriff's Office, Jackson Police Department, Richland Police Department, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. The case is the result of an extensive investigation, dubbed "Drama Queen," which began as an operation targeting illegal methamphetamine distribution in central Mississippi. "Drama Queen" is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Keesha Middleton and Chris Wansley.
