Rapid City Man Sentenced for Meth Trafficking Ring

RAPID CITY – A Rapid City man has been slapped with a 2-year federal prison sentence for his role in a meth trafficking operation.

On June 7, 2024, U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence to 33-year-old Joseph "Jo Jo" Dowty, who was convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Dowty, who had a lengthy rap sheet, was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and serve three years of supervised release after his prison stint.

The case against Dowty began in May 2023, when a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

On April 4, 2023, police officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety were hot on Dowty’s tail, searching for him due to an outstanding arrest warrant related to his 2018 felony manslaughter conviction out of Pennington County, South Dakota.

When they finally caught up with Dowty, he was packing a Ruger Wrangler .22 caliber revolver and a whopping 11 grams of methamphetamine, broken down into 49 separate packages – a clear indication of his intentions.

This case is a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against methamphetamine trafficking in South Dakota, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to holding those responsible accountable.

The investigation was led by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuting the case.

Dowty was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, bringing an end to his reign of terror.

The sentencing comes as a welcome relief to the community, which has been plagued by the scourge of methamphetamine for far too long.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to commend the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety for their tireless efforts in bringing Dowty to justice.