A 37-year-old Elk City woman is being held on a $100,000 bond in the Beckham County Detention Center after being charged with trafficking fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia, and bringing contraband into penal facility.
If convicted of trafficking fentanyl, Jennifer Gail Welch faces up to 20 years in prison and a $100-250,000 fine.
The investigation began at approximately 1:36 am on February 13 when a Beckham County Sheriff’s Office deputy was at Love’s Convenience Store on Route 66 in Elk City when he heard an Elk City Police Department officer running Welch’s name to check for outstanding warrants.
The deputy knew Welch was pumping gas at Love’s.
The deputy heard a valid warrant, so went to Welch and placed her in hand restraints.
The deputy reportedly found paraphernalia on Welch’s person.
The deputy reportedly asked Welch if she had anything else on her person and informed her that bringing it into a penal facility would result in a felony charge.
During the search at the BCDC, two grams of alleged fentanyl was allegedly found on Welch’s person.
The deputy reported that it field tested positive for fentanyl and has been sent to the OSBI State Crime Lab for fur- ther verification. Welch reportedly told the deputy she believed the substance was methamphetamine.
