A Rapid City man has been recognized for his role in a multi-agency investigation that led to the conviction of four individuals involved in a fentanyl trafficking ring.
The multi-agency team, which included the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard, was selected by the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) as the Outstanding Overdose Investigative Effort of the Year.
In late April 2022, a young man was found deceased in the driver's seat of his vehicle at a gas station in Rapid City, South Dakota. An autopsy indicated the victim died from fentanyl toxicity.
The investigation was led by the South Dakota Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), which identified four individuals - Curtis Cummings, Katey McGruder, Christina Sanchez, and Wyatt Nygaard - who were involved in the distribution of fentanyl to the victim.
The investigation revealed that Cummings and his wife, McGruder, obtained large amounts of fentanyl from a source of supply in Colorado on a weekly basis. They would then bring the fentanyl back to their home in Rapid City, where it was further distributed by Sanchez and other co-conspirators. On April 26, 2022, Cummings and McGruder provided fentanyl to Sanchez, who provided the fentanyl to Nygaard. Nygaard then provided the fentanyl to the victim, who overdosed and died within minutes of ingesting the fentanyl.
Cummings, McGruder, Sanchez, and Nygaard were indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death. Sanchez, McGruder, and Nygaard each pleaded guilty to Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death. On January 24, 2024, Nygaard was sentenced to 23 years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On August 9, 2024, Sanchez and McGruder were each sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Cummings was convicted following a jury trial of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death. On January 24, 2025, he was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
The multi-agency team was recognized for their outstanding investigative efforts, which delivered justice for the victims of this horrible crime and improved public safety by preventing further deaths that would have resulted from the illegal activities of these defendants.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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