Woman Sentenced to Twelve Years for Drug Dealing, 'Stealing Education'

Tanya McDowell, the Bridgeport mother accused of fraudulently enrolling her son in a Norwalk school and stealing educational services from the district, has plead guilty:

In all, McDowell was sentenced to 12 years in prison, suspended after she serves five years with five years probation. She could be forced to serve more time if she violates the terms of her probation. McDowell also pleaded guilty earlier this month in Bridgeport to two counts of sale of narcotics to undercover police officers. 

She is to be sentenced on the Bridgeport charges March 27 and faces up to five years in jail for those convictions. As part of the plea bargain, McDowell would be able to serve the sentences from Norwalk and Bridgeport concurrently. Crosland said he tried to separate the drug cases from the school case, but prosecutors and the judge would not split them. He said she was facing much more than 15 years in jail if he took all the cases to trial. 

As a result he was forced to take an "all-or-nothing deal," he said after the hearing. Hudock said that as part of her probation, McDowell will have to make restitution to Norwalk in an amount not to exceed $6,200 -- the estimated cost of her son's education.

The citizens of Bridgeport can breath easy. Their streets are once again safe.