The Attorney General’s office is bringing charges for an alleged drug-smuggling scheme that led to an overdose death within the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls.
Attorney General Marty Jackley is bringing hefty charges to a now-former state employee and an inmate in the men’s penitentiary. Jackley alleged their actions led to the death of State Pen inmate Travis Long Fox on Nov. 7. He was 33.
Twenty-five-year-old Natalie Bernice Krause worked as a medical aide in the prison, and 26-year-old inmate Cole Roberts Waters—who’s serving a 65-year sentence—are indicted. Jackley said the two are believed to had “a personal relationship.”
Jackley explained the scheme.
“It is alleged that the nurse, Krause, had obtained K2 that ultimately the nurse transferred it to inmate Waters via paper,” he said in a press conference in Sioux Falls Friday.
The drug was then transferred to Long Fox. Jackley brought five total “significant” charges related to the scheme. In total, Krause, the prison employee, is facing 75 years in prison. Waters is facing 170 more in prison time. Due to state law, Waters charges can be doubled as a prison inmate.
Both are indicted on one count of the following:
- Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Cannabinoids) Resulting in Death. The mandatory minimum sentence is one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
- Aiding, Abetting or Advising Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Cannabinoids) Resulting in Death. The mandatory minimum sentence is one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
- Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Cannabinoids) Resulting in Death. The mandatory minimum sentence is one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
- Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Cannabinoids). The mandatory minimum sentence is one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Krause received an additional count of Possession of an Unauthorized Article (Synthetic Cannabinoids with Intent to Deliver to an Inmate. The maximum sentence is 10 years.
Jackley said K2 is hard to track within the system.
“It can be placed on paper, whether that’s through legal process with an attorney, or a correction officer, a nurse, there’s going to be an exchange of medical related paper," Jackley said. "That gives the opportunity.”
He added cases dealing within prisons also pose their own investigative challenges.
“Oftentimes the individuals we are investigating are serving long sentences, and so there’s less cooperation we’re able to obtain which sometimes makes these investigations more challenging, take a little longer,” Jackley said.
Jackley said the investigation into drugs entering the pen is not complete. There have been eight overdose deaths since February. He said additional charging decisions are expected to come out publicly within 30-45 days.
Both are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution until proven guilty. A court date has not been set.
