A Hazen woman was sentenced to serve two years with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation after pleading guilty to possession of two pounds of meth with intent to deliver.

Celinda Marie Allessio, 53, Hazen, entered her change of plea in North Central District Court on July 31 before Judge Gary Lee.

According to court documents, Allessio was charged in March following an investigation by Minot Police officers assigned to the Ward County Narcotics Task Force. Task force investigators received information from the Metro Area Narcotics Task Force regarding an individual traveling by train from Washington who was suspected to be possessing 2,000 M30 fentanyl pills.

Task force investigators learned the suspect was traveling with Allessio and discovered documentation showing the pair had made the trip several times in previous years. The other suspect had multiple warrants for his arrest for narcotics-related offenses, according to court documents.

The drug task force officers made contact and detained the pair at the Amtrak passenger station in Minot on March 6 and located fentanyl inside the male suspect’s property. A search warrant was sought and executed to search Allessio’s luggage, which uncovered two pounds of methamphetamine.

Lee sentenced Allessio to serve two years of a 20-year sentence, with credit for 39 days already served. Allessio was ordered to complete three years of supervised probation, along with a chemical dependency evaluation. Allessio was assessed $125 in court fines and fees.