Agencies from all around the Tahoe Basin responded to a report of fentanyl exposure at the Douglas County Sheriff's Substation in Stateline. Ashleigh Goodwin/Tahoe Daily Tribune
A woman admitted she brought more than 20 ounces of fentanyl to Douglas County during three drug buys, the last of which resulted in five deputies having to be hospitalized for exposure to the lethal drug.
Regina K. Rojas, 35, admitted she conspired on more than one occasion with co-defendant Jessica Thomas, 32, between June 2 and Oct. 20 to sell fentanyl and heroin.
Rojas faces the possibility of decades in prison at her Feb. 6, 2023, sentencing after she entered guilty pleas to two counts of principal to low-level trafficking, principal to high-level possession of a controlled substance, principal to mid-level possession of a controlled substance, principal to sale of a controlled substance and three counts of conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
Each of the trafficking charges carries a maximum of 2-20 years in prison. High level possession is punishable by 2-15 years in prison while mid-level possession carries a 1-10-year charge.
Each of the conspiracy charges carries a 1-5-year sentence, according to Nevada Revised statutes. The aggregate of all eight sentences, should they be run consecutively is 80 years with a minimum of 10 years. She is not eligible for probation on the trafficking charges.
Rojas and Thomas are accused of three sales where they exchanged 10 ounces for $10,000 on June 2, 5 ounces for $5,000 on July 20 and 5.25 ounces for $6,000 on Oct. 20, according to court documents.
Thomas is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Tahoe Township Justice Court on Jan. 5, according to prosecutor Erik Levin.
The hearing will determine if there is marginal or slight evidence sufficient to bind Thomas over for arraignment in district court on the charges. Should she deny the charges there, the case would be set for trial.
Rojas is being represented by attorney Martin Hart while Thomas is represented by attorney Brian Filter.
Both women have been in Douglas County custody since their arrest.
