South Dakota Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Methamphetamine Trafficking
In a major blow to the local drug trade, 49-year-old Christopher Daniels of Trent, South Dakota, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in a large-scale methamphetamine distribution and laundering organization.
The investigation, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation team, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Moody County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol, revealed that Daniels was the leader of a cell that brought in over 100 pounds of methamphetamine to the Sioux Falls area from Arizona and Mexico.
Daniels, who has a history of federal sentences for drug distribution, was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments in December 2021. He pleaded guilty on July 21, 2022.
According to court documents, Daniels obtained multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine from his source in Arizona through the mail and vehicle deliveries to South Dakota. He then distributed the methamphetamine to others who resold it and directed others in the handling of proceeds from the organization’s drug distribution activities.
The funds involved in the money laundering were sent by wire to people associated with the drug source in Arizona. Daniels was sentenced on November 14, 2022, by District Judge Karen E. Schreier and was ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Daniels was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Dakota prosecuted the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges leading the effort.
This case highlights the ongoing struggle against methamphetamine trafficking in the region and the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies.
Christopher Daniels, 49, Defendant/Respondent
Exact Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments
City and State: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Exact Date: November 14, 2022 (sentencing)
Sentence or Outcome: 30 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release
Dollar Amounts: $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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