Eagle Butte Man Cops to Meth Distribution Scheme

Wambli Meeter, 34, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, is headed down a hard-luck road after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine across tribal lands and rural counties. The federal crackdown culminated in a November 21, 2016, sentencing before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, marking the end of a short but sordid run fueled by crystal poison.

On June 2, 2015, law enforcement moved in after spotting Meeter in possession of 4.47 grams of methamphetamine—divvied into six baggies—on the streets of Eagle Butte. But it wasn’t just dope. Cops also seized a syringe loaded with a liquid that field-tested positive for opiates, along with a pair of brass knuckles, signaling a dangerous mix of drug trade and potential violence.

Just days later, by June 10, Meeter was back at it—this time operating in and around the Standing Rock Reservation. Authorities say he didn’t just use meth; he sold it, circulated it, and embedded himself in the toxic pipeline feeding addiction through vulnerable communities. His actions fell squarely under federal jurisdiction, triggering a full-scale investigation.

Indicted by a federal grand jury on October 14, 2015, on charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Meeter didn’t fight the machine. On December 15, 2015, he pleaded guilty, sealing his fate without the spectacle of a trial. The evidence, likely captured through surveillance and informant testimony, left little room for debate.

Judge Lange handed down a sentence of time served—roughly 12 months behind bars, much of it in custody and court-ordered treatment—followed by 2 years of supervised release. Meeter also forked over $185 in forfeited currency, paid a $1,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The financial sting, while real, pales next to the damage dealt to his community.

The case was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, a specialized unit targeting narcotics networks in the region. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted, and Meeter walked free after sentencing—but not unscarred. His name now etched into the federal docket, a cautionary tale in the ongoing war against rural drug trafficking.