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ELKO, Nev. (AP) -- The wife of a former Utah police chief who worked as a stripper in Nevada under the stage name "Ecstasy" has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and five years probation on drug charges.
Sylvia Tripp, 41, was charged for her role in prescription drug sales of oxycodone, hydromorphone, carisprodol and morphine. As part of a plea agreement, she pleaded guilty to principal sale of a controlled substance and conspiracy.
Tripp's husband, Vaughn Tripp, resigned after her arrest from his job as police chief in Wendover, Utah. She worked at the Southern X-Posure Club in West Wendover, Nev.
Elko District Judge Andrew Puccinelli gave her a suspended sentence on Tuesday of 31 months to seven years in prison contingent on the probation, jail time and other conditions.
Puccinelli told her his court does not take prescription drug sales lightly.
"It is becoming an epidemic in this country," he said.
Puccinelli said Tripp was the "gopher girl" at the club, which helped facilitate the drug sales, not the drug dealer.
"You were part of a criminal enterprise, albeit not as involved as others," Puccinelli said. "It is clear to the court you were servicing your addiction to these narcotics."
Tripp had never been convicted of a crime, and Puccinelli said he was balancing that with the severity of her crime.
"If you had a more extensive record, I guarantee you would go to prison," he told Tripp.
As a German citizen, Tripp is seeking American citizenship. Her attorney, Marc Picker, told the Elko Daily Free Press her presence in this country is "precarious" and the felony charges may impact her status.
Information from: Elko Daily Free Press
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
