27-year-old Keaisha Aliya Winkler of Hudson will serve the next 15 to 20 years in the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections after entering a plea in a Caldwell County drug case. She pleaded guilty to trafficking fentanyl during Caldwell County Superior Court last Monday (October 30). The Honorable Daniel A. Kuehnert, Superior Court Judge from Burke County, imposed the prison sentence for the defendant following her plea. She was also fined $100,000.

The defendant was charged in September of this year with numerous narcotics violations by the Lenoir Police Department and the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office in connection to her conduct that occurred September 7 through September 11.

As WHKY previously reported, on September 9, Winkler was charged with felony counts of trafficking in opium or heroin & maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for the sale of a controlled substance. The arrest followed an undercover investigation that led to the seizure of 145 grams (5.17 ounces) of fentanyl. Winkler was arrested after a confidential source gave officers information regarding the crimes.

According to a news release from the District Attorney’s Office, cooperation among the Caldwell County District Attorney’s Office, the Lenoir Police Department and the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office led to the swift prosecution and sentencing of the defendant in this case. The case was investigated by the Lenoir Police Department and Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant District Attorney Nolan Hancock handled prosecution for the State. As of earlier today (November 8), Winkler remained in the Caldwell County Detention Center in Lenoir.