A former Maricopa County Deputy Public Defender has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for her involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking scheme.
Sally Joyce Nyemba, 33, of Phoenix, was arrested on May 12, 2020, after she negotiated the purchase of approximately two pounds of methamphetamine for $3,600 and 4,000 M30 pills for $10,000 from an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent.
Nyemba, who was a practicing attorney at the time of her arrest, met with the undercover DEA agent in Phoenix to finalize the drug deal. Agents searched her vehicle and seized approximately $14,158 in U.S. currency.
Nyemba pleaded guilty to Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on August 31, 2023. She was sentenced by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich on Monday.
The investigation into Nyemba’s activities was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which aims to disrupt and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations threatening the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution, working closely with the Drug Enforcement Administration East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force to bring Nyemba to justice.
As part of her sentence, Nyemba will serve 18 months in prison. The case serves as a stark reminder that no one is above the law, and those who engage in illegal activities will be held accountable.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-01094-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-055_Nyemba
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/.
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
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Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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