On Wednesday, March 27, President Judge James Arner sentenced 31-year-old Whitney Nicole Allen, of Springfield, MA, to a minimum of 30 months (2.5 years) up to a maximum of 60 months (five years) in state prison on one felony count of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance.

Court documents indicate Whitney pleaded guilty to the above charge on February 20, 2019.

As a result of the plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed:

• Identity Theft, Misdemeanor 1
• False Identification To Law Enforcement Officer, Misdemeanor 3
• Driving W/O A License, Summary
• Contraband/Controlled Substance, Felony 2
• Careless Driving, Summary
• Too Slow For Conditions, Summary

Allen is currently lodged in the Clarion County Jail, awaiting transfer to a state correctional facility.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, around 9:47 p.m. on Sunday, May 27, 2018, Trooper Allison was traveling westbound on I-80 near mile marker 66.4 when he witnessed a black Honda Odyssey van with Massachusetts plates traveling with hazard lights on and a blown left rear tire traveling at a slow rate of speed.

Trooper Allison activated the emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle pulled onto the north berm.

Trooper Allison noted that as he approached the front passenger window of the vehicle, he could smell a very strong scent of marijuana coming from the vehicle. He also noticed what appeared to be loose marijuana on the front passenger side floor of the vehicle, the complaint states.

The female driver of the vehicle was the only occupant, and she stated that she did not have any identification.

Based on the smell of marijuana, the woman was removed from the vehicle for the purpose of a probable cause search.

According to the complaint, prior to the search, Trooper Allison attempted to identify the driver. The driver provided the name of a known individual, and Trooper Allison reminded her that false identification to law enforcement is a misdemeanor offense, but the driver insisted she gave him the correct identifying information.

A search of the vehicle was performed, and the identification for Whitney Nicole Allen was discovered in the driver’s side door. The photo on the discovered identification matched the driver of the vehicle.

The probable cause search continued and a tan powder substance contained in a double wrapped plastic bag was found in a left rear passenger area fuse compartment of the vehicle. It was apparent that the powder was placed in the fuse box for concealment purposes.

The search was halted at the time, and Allen was then taken into custody and transported to PSP Clarion for the purpose of further identification.

For safety concerns, the vehicle was seized and towed from the berm of I-80 and impounded at PSP Clarion and a search warrant was applied for.

Allen was positively identified and arraigned at 1:15 a.m. on May 28 in front of Magisterial Judge Schill for Identity Theft and False ID to Law Enforcement.

Bail was set at $10,000.00 and Allen was committed to the Clarion County Jail.

A female corrections officer conducted a body search of Allen during intake and located marijuana in Allen’s vaginal area.

On May 29, 2018, a search warrant was applied for and granted for a search of Allen’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and the tan powder substance was seized from the left rear passenger area fuse compartment and sent to the Erie Regional Laboratory for analysis.

The white powder substance was identified as 60.12 grams of fentanyl.