David Fowler, Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, South Dakota 2025

Aberdeen man found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, faces life in prison and $1 million fine.

SIOUX FALLS – In a shocking turn of events, a jury in federal district court in Aberdeen, South Dakota, has convicted 49-year-old David Fowler of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The verdict was returned on June 4, 2025.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in federal prison and/or a $1,000,000 fine, up to life on supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

David Fowler was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024. Investigators with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office conducted three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Fowler, in amounts ranging from 10-21 grams. Authorities then obtained a search warrant for Fowler’s home, where 56 grams of methamphetamine were located. Fowler’s supplier was also arrested en route to his residence with an additional 344 grams of methamphetamine.

The investigation revealed the methamphetamine was being mailed from California to a local source in Aberdeen, where it was then sold to sub-distributors, including Fowler. In total, Fowler purchased five packages of methamphetamine, totaling 2.5 pounds.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, the Aberdeen Police Department, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing will take place on September 8, 2025. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Fowler faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison and/or a $1,000,000 fine, up to life on supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The investigation revealed a large-scale methamphetamine distribution ring in Aberdeen, and Fowler’s conviction is a significant blow to the organization.

The case highlights the ongoing struggle against methamphetamine trafficking in South Dakota. The state has seen a significant increase in methamphetamine-related crimes in recent years, and law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to dismantle these organizations.

David Fowler, 49, of Aberdeen, South Dakota, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance is a serious federal offense, punishable by up to life in prison and a $1 million fine.

The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.

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