WORCESTER – A Fitchburg woman is going to spend the next two years making small talk with a psychotic from a steel bunk bed in the slammer thanks to her involvement in a drug trafficking ring.
Amanda Ford, 35, was sentenced in federal court in Worcester today to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. According to a press release from the FBI, in early December, Ford plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base.
Investigators found Ford as they were conducting an investigation into a fatal fentanyl overdoes in the Fitchburg area in September of 2018. Ford was slinging a mixture of fentanyl and heroin as well as crack cocaine on a regular basis to individuals in the Fitchburg area, the release said. Investigators also found that she worked closely with co-conspirators Pedro Baez and Anthony Baez.
Investors seized the following from the trio over the course of their investigation:
- Over 1.8 kilograms of a heroin and fentanyl mixture
- Over 3.6 kilograms of cocaine
- Over 50 grams of crack cocaine
- A stolen, loaded handgun
- Drug manufacturing equipment
- Over $376,000
Ford and 17 others found to be involved in the drug trafficking ring were initially charged in July of 2020. In December 2020, Anthony Baez was sentenced to 13 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Three of the remaining defendants, Pedro Baez, Branny Taveras and Hector Matos have plead guilty and are awaiting sentencing, the release said.