Judge Virginia Ward, of the Salt Lake City Justice Court, faces two counts of possession with intent to distribute, according to information filed by the Attorney General's Office in 3rd District Court.---

According to the probable-cause statement, the Drug Enforcement Agency had been investigating packages containing Oxycodone that were being shipped to a UPS Store at 358 S. 700 East in Salt Lake City since early 2013. A DEA agent found out through a subpoena that Ward was renting the box. Approximately 170 packages were shipped to Ward's P.O. box.

DEA agents witnessed Ward pick up packages on five separate occasions. "On one occasion, agents watched as she opened the package and then appeared to swallow a pill inside her vehicle."

Ward was arrested March 30, 2013, when she picked up two packages at the UPS Store containing 338 Oxycodone tablets. After the DEA agents arrested her, she told them the tablets were for neck pain. "She also admitted to trading controlled substances that she had received in order to obtain Oxycodone and other controlled substances," assistant Attorney General Lana Taylor wrote in the information.

Ward told the agents that the shipment she'd picked up belonged to a Josh or Jose Anderson and that she was planning to meet up with him later to hand over the packages in exchange for Oxy tabs. "She knew he would then distribute the pills to other individuals."

Ward is scheduled for an arraignment July 11 in 3rd District Court before Judge Su Chon.