Earlier this month, Attorney Dena King organized an award ceremony for the Western District’s Excellence in the Pursuit of Justice. The event aimed to acknowledge the efforts of various law enforcement entities, community partners, and individuals for their contributions to the Department of Justice’s mission and their commitment to ensuring the safety of the residents of Western North Carolina. Among the notable recognitions in Jackson County were Steve Davis, Daniel Peoples (ret), and Christy Sims from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, for their involvement in a case where a woman had smuggled drugs into the Detention Center in April 2021.
Megan Emily Tate, a 29-year-old resident of Sylva, was found guilty of distributing a substance containing fentanyl, which led to two overdoses. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release in April.
Additionally, Brandon Elders from the Cherokee Indian Police Department and DEA Task Force Officer David Lovedahl were also honored for their contributions to the handling of the case.
