Rusk County Woman Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Violation

TYLER — A 52-year-old Overton woman has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations. Francie Irene Jernigan-Haynes pleaded guilty back in January 10 to possession of equipment used to manufacture heroin. In an appearance yesterday before U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis, Haynes was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.

Federal prosecutors say, on January 25, 2011, Haynes’ co-defendant sold capsules containing heroin to a confidential informant at Haynes’ residence in Overton. Haynes and her husband were present and saw the transaction. On January 27, 2011, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Haynes’ residence, which led to the discovery of an electric grinder containing a powdery residue which tested positive for heroin. Haynes was named in a federal indictment returned by the grand jury last September.