Couple charged with dealing fentanyl-laced pills
ELKHART — An Elkhart couple are accused of dealing fentanyl pills following an undercover investigation.
Penny Walters, 37, and Anthony Picard II, 36, were arrested Tuesday and charged with dealing fentanyl, a Level 2 felony. Picard also faces a Level 2 felony count of dealing a narcotic drug with enhancing circumstances and Walters is additionally charged with dealing narcotics as a Level 3 felony.
Picard was booked in the Elkhart County Correctional Facility on $250,000 bond and Walters was booked on $175,000.
They were arrested following an undercover investigation by the Elkhart County Intelligence and Covert Enforcement unit, which received a tip earlier this year alleging that Walters and Picard were dealing large amounts of drugs.
The couple was allegedly dealing counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl, according to police. The pills were small, blue and circular and were stamped with M30.
Police say they conducted several controlled purchases of pills from Walters and Picard and confirmed that they were involved in dealing narcotics together. Both of them were arrested following a traffic stop in Goshen Tuesday, after police followed them from an Oakdale Street residence in Elkhart.
Police say they were in possession of a plastic baggie of circular blue pills as well as over $1,700 in cash.
Picard allegedly told officers the pills were his, while Walters claimed that she didn’t know they contained fentanyl, according to police. She said she deals the pills to people as instructed by Picard and gives the money to him.
Picard allegedly told officers that they were on their way to sell the pills when they were stopped. He allegedly admitted to dealing the pills and gave investigators specific dollar amounts for how much he buys and sells the pills.
