In a major blow to the illicit drug trade in the Black Hills area, a Rapid City woman has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Brittany Vermeulen, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken on March 24, 2023, after a federal grand jury indicted her in July of 2022. She pleaded guilty to the charges on January 6, 2023.
According to court documents, during her involvement in the conspiracy, Vermeulen obtained distributable quantities of fentanyl, often traveling to the Denver, Colorado, area to pick up the deadly drug. Upon her return to South Dakota, she would then distribute the fentanyl, primarily in the Black Hills area.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina S. Nelson prosecuted the case.
Vermeulen was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The sentencing of Vermeulen is a significant victory in the ongoing effort to combat the opioid crisis in South Dakota. The sale and distribution of fentanyl have claimed countless lives in the state, and this conviction serves as a reminder that those responsible will be held accountable.
The case against Vermeulen serves as a warning to others involved in the illicit drug trade: the penalties for these crimes are severe, and the consequences of getting caught are severe.
Related Federal Cases
- Jose Arguello, Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, South Dakota 2023 · South Dakota
- Jeremiah Little, Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, South Dakota 2023 · South Dakota
- Shadow Jensen, Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, South Dakota 2022 · Wyoming
- Todd Deutsch, Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, South Dakota 2023 · New York
- Veronica Ortega, Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, South Carolina 2023 · Wyoming
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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