A Sioux Falls woman was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and fined $100 for her role in a California-based drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in South Dakota.
Amanda Acosta, 43, of Prairie Village, Kansas, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to combat cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
According to court documents, Acosta became involved with the drug trafficking organization in July 2024, acting as a sub-distributor and purchasing significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, which she then sold to individuals in Sioux Falls and other areas throughout South Dakota.
Acosta also allowed the organization to ship packages of fentanyl pills directly to her residence through the mail. Her involvement with the organization ended with her arrest in September 2024.
As part of her sentence, Acosta was ordered to pay a special assessment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and will serve five years of supervised release following her prison term.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with assistance from local law enforcement agencies. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Acosta was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Defendant: Amanda Acosta, Kansas Woman, Real Full Name, 43 years old
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance
City and State: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Date: September 29, 2025 (sentencing), July 2024 (involvement), September 2024 (arrest)
Sentence: 20 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund
Related Federal Cases
- Shelton Lapointe, Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Nebraska 2024 · Kansas
- Erick Anaya, Meth Trafficking, South Dakota 2021 · South Dakota
- Eleuterio Rosario Martinez, Methamphetamine Conspiracy, California 2020 · Idaho
- Ricky Lee Young, Jr., Cocaine Conspiracy, South Dakota 2022 · Idaho
- Julissa Poor Bear, Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, South Dakota 2020 · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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