SIOUX FALLS, SD – Anthony Romeo Osuna, 25, of Mount Angel, Oregon, is headed to federal prison for ten years after being sentenced for his central role in a multi-state methamphetamine conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence on April 15, 2024, following Osuna’s January guilty plea.
The operation, detailed by federal prosecutors, involved smuggling significant quantities of meth – approximately eleven pounds – concealed within a modified Nissan Armada. Osuna, known on the streets as “Romeo,” orchestrated the transport from his base in Oregon, while his associates drove the vehicle towards distribution points in Minnesota and South Dakota. He continued to peddle narcotics from Oregon while the vehicle made its way across state lines.
The scheme unraveled on November 7, 2019, when a Worthington, Minnesota police officer pulled over the Armada. A search revealed the hidden compartment and its illicit cargo of methamphetamine, alongside two firearms. Osuna’s co-conspirators were immediately taken into custody, but Osuna remained at large until his indictment in December 2022.
Beyond the prison term, Osuna will face five years of supervised release following his incarceration. He’s also been ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund – a paltry sum considering the damage his operation inflicted. Federal investigators believe Osuna was a key supplier in the regional methamphetamine trade.
The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with crucial support from the Worthington and Sioux Falls Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges spearheaded the prosecution. The ATF’s involvement signals the agency’s focus on disrupting large-scale drug trafficking operations that often involve firearms.
Osuna was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence. While one trafficker is off the streets, authorities acknowledge that the demand for methamphetamine continues to fuel these dangerous networks. The case serves as a stark reminder of the cross-state reach of drug cartels and the ongoing battle to stem the flow of illicit substances into American communities.
Related Federal Cases
- Meth Conspiracy Sentences, South Dakota 2024 · Oregon
- John Doe, Meth Trafficking, South Dakota 2022 · Oregon
- Meth Trafficking Duo Sentenced in South Dakota, 2023 · North Dakota
- Anthony Romeo Osuna, Meth Conspiracy, Oregon 2024 · Oregon
- James Joseph Thompson, Methamphetamine Possession, South Dakota 2016 · Oregon
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking