Amanda Vu, Methamphetamine Trafficking, South Dakota 2023

RAPID CITY, SD – Amanda Vu, 36, of Rapid City, is facing a lengthy stretch behind bars after being sentenced to 18 years in federal prison today for her role in a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking operation. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken handed down the sentence, along with five years of supervised release and a $100 assessment for the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Vu pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance – specifically, methamphetamine. Federal authorities say the scheme stretched back to January 2020 and continued until her arrest in November 2022. The operation involved Vu sourcing the drug from Colorado and transporting it back to South Dakota for distribution, both to users and to other dealers.

Investigators estimate Vu smuggled approximately 60 kilograms of methamphetamine into the state over the course of the two-year period. That’s a staggering amount of the highly addictive drug flooding the streets of South Dakota. She didn’t just rely on simple transport; Vu actively worked to conceal her activities. Court records show she rented multiple vehicles, a storage unit, and even short-term house rentals to facilitate the operation and evade law enforcement scrutiny.

The bust was the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET). UNET is a multi-agency task force pulling resources from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and even the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich led the prosecution.

“This case demonstrates the devastating impact of methamphetamine trafficking on our communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell, though sources indicate the announcement was a standard procedural release. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to dismantle these organizations and hold those responsible accountable.”

Vu was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals following the sentencing. Her 18-year sentence sends a message – albeit a late one – that large-scale drug trafficking won’t be tolerated in South Dakota. The investigation continues, with authorities looking into potential co-conspirators and the source of the methamphetamine in Colorado.

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