Robert Chauncey, Methamphetamine Trafficking, SD 2016

Robert Chauncey, a 66-year-old man from Mission, South Dakota, was sentenced to 25 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, a conviction rooted in a routine traffic stop that exposed a calculated drug operation. The sentence, handed down December 6, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, marks the end of a two-year legal spiral that began with a vehicle search on tribal land.

On December 2, 2014, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services pulled over a vehicle driven and owned by Chauncey. What started as a standard traffic interdiction turned into a full-blown drug bust when officers discovered marijuana, 11.89 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, and drug paraphernalia on his person. Also seized: $1,701.63 in cash, later ordered forfeited as proceeds tied to the illegal trade.

Chauncey admitted he intended to distribute the methamphetamine—a Schedule II controlled substance—across South Dakota. The evidence left little room for debate: the scales suggested packaging for resale, and the cash reeked of street-level drug trade. His plea, entered on September 14, 2016, came after a federal grand jury indictment on November 10, 2015, charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute.

Judge Lange didn’t mince words, imposing not only 25 months behind bars but also a $1,000 fine, a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and a stiff six years of supervised release upon his eventual freedom. The ruling underscores the federal judiciary’s hard line on drug distribution, especially on tribal lands where law enforcement resources are often stretched thin.

The investigation was led by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, a critical player in maintaining order within the reservation’s borders. Their collaboration with federal prosecutors ensured the case moved swiftly through the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan secured the conviction and sentencing.

Immediately after sentencing, Chauncey was handed over to the U.S. Marshals Service, vanishing into the federal prison system. His fall from local resident to convicted trafficker serves as a grim reminder: even small-scale drug operations carry steep consequences when the feds get involved.