A Tracy City woman involved in one of the largest fentanyl busts in Grundy County history has entered a plea deal. Susan Diane Stephens admitted guilt to possessing schedule II drugs (fentanyl .5 grams or greater) last month. Judge Bradley Sherman sentenced her to one year in the Tennessee Department of Corrections, with credit for six months served. After 180 days, she may be placed on probation, fined $2,000, and must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment along with following its recommendations.
Stephens was apprehended in April at her Lockhart Town Road residence following the discovery of a significant quantity of fentanyl pills. Investigator Avery McGinness of the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department described it as one of the largest fentanyl seizures in the county’s history, totaling 341 pills. The search also unveiled firearms, Xanax pills, cell phones, drug paraphernalia, digital scales, cash, and a gram of suspected methamphetamine.
As part of the plea bargain, charges related to methamphetamine possession and drug paraphernalia were dropped by the state. Meanwhile, Susan’s co-defendant, Michael Dale Layne, is awaiting a resolution to his legal proceedings.
