Meth by Mail Lands 2 in Jail

SARASOTA, FL - A Venice woman’s one-pound package of methamphetamine didn’t arrive quite as planned.

Rather than getting to unwrap the special delivery before the holidays, the 37-year-old found herself in handcuffs courtesy of Sarasota County deputies who intercepted the box before it made it to its destination.

The woman, identified as Jennifer M. Heller, was brought into custody after deputies acted on a tip from a man they arrested Dec. 15 on methamphetamine trafficking charges.

According to the agency, Yuri Stasiuk, 48, was brought into custody after he sold an ounce of meth to an undercover detective. A subsequent search of the man’s Sarasea Resort hotel room turned up more than a pound of meth and $8,790 in cash. Stasiuk’s girlfriend, Christine Oriold, 42, was brought into custody after the search. Oriold was also charged with trafficking.

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• Sarasota Couple Accused of Meth Trafficking

Following his Tuesday arrest, deputies say Stasiuk told deputies he was expecting a new shipment to arrive at Heller’s Venice home. The admission, deputies say, kicked off an investigation that resulted in a federal search warrant and the interception of the package by the United States Postal Inspection Service.

The package, an email from the sheriff’s office said, was opened and approximately 431 grams, or nearly a pound, of meth was found inside.

Heller now faces conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine charges as does Stasiuk. The delivery, deputies noted, originated from California.

Booking photos courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office