A West Virginia woman was sentenced in federal court to five years behind bars for trafficking 290 pounds of marijuana in her RV in Yellowstone National Park in May.
Daphne Watkins also will be required to undergo a psychological evaluation and mental health treatment, and will be on probation after she’s released from prison, according to the sentence handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl in Casper.
The federal government also will file motions for Watkins to forfeit $3,535 in cash and a 2003 Monarch Monaco recreational vehicle.
Skavdahl also granted her request to serve her time at the federal women’s prison in Alderson, W. Va. Noted FCI Alderson inmates have included business magnate and cupcake baker Martha Stewart, who served time for obstruction of justice a decade ago; Charles Manson follower Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme for the attempted assassination of President Gerald Ford in 1975; spy Iva Toguri D’Aquino for her propaganda work in World War II as “Tokyo Rose”; and jazz singer Billie Holiday for possession of narcotics in the late 1940s.
In late August, Watkins pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms, or 220 pounds, of marijuana. A second count, conspiracy with intent to distribute marijuana, was dismissed at sentencing as part of the plea agreement.
Watkins received the minimum sentence. She could have faced up to 40 years behind bars for each count.
The case began about 10 p.m. on May 28, when U.S. Park Rangers Christopher Mengak and Caitlin Schauer saw a large white Monarch SE Monaco recreational vehicle at the Grant Village Marina Area. The RV’s engine was off, but its lights were on and its generator was running, according to court records.
They suspected the RV’s occupants were planning to unlawfully stay in the parking lot overnight. They parked behind the RV, and activated their car’s emergency light.
Mengak knocked on the RV’s door, Watkins opened it. She told him she and her traveling companion Janette Day were there because they wanted to stay at the Grant Village campground but learned it would not open until June 21.
Meanwhile, Mengak and Schauer had independently smelled burnt marijuana. Watkins admitted she had smoked some before dinner. She gave him a orange make-up pouch with two pipes and a small baggie of suspected pot.
Schauer said he had probable cause to search the RV, and Watkins then gave him a brown make-up bag with a jar with suspected pot.
He then asked if they had any more. Watkins said she was trafficking and had 289 pounds, but Day said the amount was closer to 200 pounds.
Schauer told them they were under arrest. Then Watkins blurted out, “‘I knew what I was doing…. I wasn’t planning on getting caught but I damn sure knew what I was doing…. I never did it while my children were children,’” according to court documents.
A subsequent search revealed large vacuum-sealed prepackaged bags weighing a total of 290.5 pounds.
Watkins told National Park Service agents she had been trafficking marijuana and cash between California and the east coast about four times a year for four years. She and Day have owned restaurants in Tucker County, W.Va., which is home to Kingsford Charcoal’s largest charcoal manufacturing plant.
They pleaded not guilty on July 31, and were ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Shickich.
In late August, Skavdahl granted the prosecutor’s motion to dismiss the case against Day without prejudice, which means the government could bring back the charges at a later date.
Submitted By Tom Morton K2Radio, Casper, Wyoming
