Fargo Man Sentenced to 14 Years for 9 Pounds of Meth

A North Dakota man has been handed a lengthy sentence for his role in a massive methamphetamine trafficking operation in Northern South Dakota.

Travis Leanell Henley, 28, of Fargo, North Dakota, was sentenced to 14 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Henley was convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute, a charge brought against him by a federal grand jury in February 2023. He pleaded guilty on October 10, 2023.

The incident that led to Henley’s arrest occurred on April 5, 2022, when he was pulled over for a traffic violation in Roberts County, South Dakota. A Roberts County Deputy noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and conducted a search. The deputy located marijuana in the ash tray, approximately $3,000 in cash in the center console, a loaded firearm in the backseat, and over 9 pounds of methamphetamine in the back hatch of the vehicle.

Upon locating the methamphetamine, Henley fled the scene on foot. After a short chase, Henley was captured and arrested for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cass County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case.

Henley was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. This sentencing serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat methamphetamine trafficking in the region.