CLEARFIELD – A Kane woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to her part in the fatal drug overdose of a Treasure Lake man.
Samantha Gustafson, 30, was sentenced by Judge Paul E. Cherry to serve seven to 15 years in state prison with 12 months re-entry supervision for felony drug delivery resulting in death and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, according to a court employee.
She was ordered to pay over $11,000 in restitution.
The charges stem from an incident on April 18 when 38-year-old Matthew Meholic was found deceased on his bathroom floor by emergency personnel.
Police say they located drug paraphernalia, a rolled up $5 bill and a white powdery substance at the scene.
After seizing the victim’s phone, investigators found multiple messages between Meholic and “Sammy G”, later identified as Gustafson, indicating they were meeting up around 11:30 p.m. the previous night, according to the affidavit.
A woman who had been with the victim on April 17, told police around 11 p.m., he asked her to take him somewhere to meet “Sammy G”. He got out of her vehicle and returned 10 minutes later. After one more stop, they went to the victim’s home.
Once there, he went into the bathroom and was “sluggish” when he came out as if he was under the influence, she told them.
Because she needed to get up early, the victim set his alarm for 5:50 a.m. At that time, he went back in the bathroom. She heard water running, but she left before he came out of the room.
An investigator contacted Gustafson from the victim’s phone, assuming his identity. Through this exchange, they learned the victim had paid $140 for drugs from Gustafson.
They made arrangements for officers to purchase $200 worth of drugs later that day at Treasure Lake.
When Gustafson was near the gate of the community, police conducted a traffic stop and took her into custody.
She reportedly confessed to investigators that she sold the victim heroin on April 17.
An autopsy revealed the victim died of an overdose of Fentanyl.
In a second case, she pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and was given a concurrent period of six months to five years in state prison.
