New charges for woman already charged in record meth bust

By Peggy Revell on January 10, 2018.

A 47-year-old woman charged following what police say is the largest meth bust in city history is back in custody facing five new counts of trafficking a controlled substance.

The new charges were laid last week against Shonna Scriven, and stem back to an investigation between Dec. 2-5, said Staff Sgt. Cory Both with the Medicine Hat Police Service.

This investigation was for the common “dial-a-dope” operation, with undercover officers making multiple purchases of cocaine, to the amount of 16 grams, said Both.

Both said it’s this investigation into cocaine trafficking that ultimately led police to investigating Scriven for trafficking meth into the city — leading to her arrest in the early morning of Dec. 8, when organized crime task force initiated a planned vehicle stop of the car she was driving just inside city limits on Highway 3. Police seized 1.02 kilograms of methamphetamine and 226 grams of cocaine, worth an estimated $125,000.

Simultaneously arrested in Lethbridge was 28-year-old Michael Abate, who was charged with drug trafficking and possessing proceeds of crime. Abate was granted bail by the Lethbridge court.

Scriven was charged with two counts of possessing meth for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime at this time — while police chose to not immediately lay charges for the cocaine trafficking.

Scriven was granted release on $5,000 cash bail, with restrictive conditions. Due to the new charges, she is back in custody.

She first appeared on these charges in court on Tuesday, and has another appearance Thursday Dec. 11.