Mandan woman sentenced on drug charge

U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on May 25, Candace Keplin, also known as Candace McCauley, 26, formerly of Belcourt, N.D., who now resides in Mandan, N.D., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance.

Hovland sentenced Keplin to three years of probation. Davis was ordered to

pay restitution of $5,763 and to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim's Fund.

Authorities said that from February 2009 until March 21, 2010, Keplin assisted her husband Timothy Davis Jr., in distributing hydrocodone, which was initially stolen by Davis from Quentin N. Burdick Memorial Health Facility, a facility operated by Indian Health Service in Belcourt. Davis was employed by IHS as a pharmacy technician at the

time the drugs were stolen. Keplin handled and stored financial proceeds from the drug sales, which were subsequently spent on personal items.

Davis pleaded guilty on March 4, 2011, to acquisition of a controlled substance by misrepresentation and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance. Davis is awaiting a sentencing date.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services - Office of Inspector General and Bureau of Indian Affairs - Turtle Mountain Agency.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandi Sasse Russell prosecuted the case.

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