North Carolina Women Sentenced for Dealing Meth in East Texas

TYLER � Two North Carolina women have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Chelsea Elizabeth McDowell, 27, of Hickory, NC, and Sandra Christilov Sylvester, (pictured) 41, of Lawndale, NC, pleaded guilty in November 2012 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. McDowell was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison and Sylvester to 66 months in federal prison yesterday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.

According to federal authorities, up until January 29, 2011, McDowell and Sylvester conspired with others to assist in transporting methamphetamine and money obtained from selling drugs to East Texas. During that time, both women were arrested in the Eastern District of Texas for possessing methamphetamine. They each admitted to being responsible for distributing methamphetamine through East Texas to Atlanta, Georgia. A federal indictment was returned on April 11, 2012, charging them with federal drug crimes.