Jason Leo Fischer, Methamphetamine and Marijuana Distribution, South Dakota 2019

EAGLE BUTTE, SD – Jason Leo Fischer, 35, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, is headed to federal prison after admitting to running a drug house. U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange sentenced Fischer to 13 months behind bars on May 29, 2019, following a guilty plea entered on March 5, 2019. The case stemmed from a federal grand jury indictment in November 2017.

According to court documents, between June 2016 and November 2017, Fischer knowingly allowed his Ziebach County residence to be used for the distribution of methamphetamine and marijuana. He wasn’t just a passive landlord; he knew people were dealing and using on the property and did absolutely nothing to stop it. This isn’t about victimless crime, it’s about enabling poison to flow into our communities.

When law enforcement finally raided the property, they didn’t just find drugs. A .22 caliber rifle was seized from the doorway of Fischer’s bedroom, and a mountain of drug paraphernalia testing positive for both methamphetamine and marijuana was recovered from inside the house. This wasn’t a social club, it was a full-service operation, complete with the tools needed to protect the product and the profits.

“Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity,” stated a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers.” That’s putting it mildly. Guns and drugs go hand-in-hand, fueling turf wars and endangering everyone caught in the crossfire. Fischer’s possession of the rifle wasn’t for sport; it was to safeguard his illegal business.

Beyond the prison sentence, Fischer will also serve 2 years of supervised release and pay a $1,000 fine. The government also secured a forfeiture order for the .22 rifle and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through coordinated law enforcement efforts. The Department of Justice made PSN a priority in 2017, focusing on targeting violent criminals and forging partnerships at all levels of government.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Narcotics Division and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case. Fischer was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence. One less drug house operating in South Dakota, but the fight is far from over.

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