One of seven defendants rounded up in early 2016 and charged with operating a crystal methamphetamine ring in Carbon and Lehigh counties was sentenced to a state prison term on Friday in Carbon County court. She was one of three sentenced on Friday by Judge Steven R. Serfass on drug counts.

Donna Marie Ziegenfuss, 45, of Palmerton was sentenced to serve a total of 16 months to four years in a state correctional institution by Serfass on charges of corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy-possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. She previously pleaded guilty to the charges. In exchange for the plea the state Attorney General's office agreed to drop another count of possession with intent along with counts of possession of a controlled substance, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and criminal use of a communication facility.Arrested with Ziegenfuss were Susan Annette Rex, 57, of Nesquehoning; Edilberto Ortiz Jr., 45, of Allentown; Holly Ann Eckhart, 50, of Palmerton; Richard E. Moyer, 57, of Lehighton; Robert David Rex, 58, of Lansford; and Connie Serfass, 60, of Lehighton. Rex also pleaded guilty to charges and is awaiting sentencing. She has applied for placement in the state intermediate punishment program and is currently in a state prison being evaluated for the program.According to criminal complaints filed by the AG office in support of the charges, investigators identified Ortiz as a main distributor who supplied six people with methamphetamine. Those people later redistributed the drugs to their customers.Officials said the activity occurred between January and March 2016.Investigators used confidential informants for controlled purchases of methamphetamine over the course of the investigation.More than 4 pounds of methamphetamine were seized from a residence where Ortiz was staying, investigators reported in a criminal complaint.That search also resulted in the seizure of a .32-caliber handgun, roughly $2,400 and drug paraphernalia.Searches of other residences resulted in the seizure of various quantities of methamphetamine, cash, digital scales and drug paraphernalia.Serfass also ordered Ziegenfuss to supply a DNA sample, get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, render a total of 200 hours of community service when released on parole, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use.Ziegenfuss, who has been in prison since her arrest, was given credit for 231 days.