EAGLE BUTTE, SD – Tyson Curtis LeCompte, 22, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, is headed to federal prison after receiving a 25-month sentence for distributing methamphetamine and escaping from the Hughes County Jail. U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange handed down the sentence on January 3, 2017, following guilty pleas to both charges.
LeCompte, also known as Tyson Garreaux, was initially indicted by a federal grand jury on August 16, 2016, for Distribution of a Controlled Substance. He admitted to selling methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, on June 25, 2016, within the state. Law enforcement also seized $1,520.00 in U.S. currency, which LeCompte conceded was profit from his illegal activities. He received 15 months for the drug charge, along with a $1,000 fine and three years of supervised release after his term.
The escape charge stemmed from an incident on October 19, 2016. LeCompte was granted a one-day furlough to attend a funeral in his hometown of Eagle Butte. He never returned. According to court documents, LeCompte failed to report back to the Hughes County Jail in Pierre that evening, effectively breaching the court’s trust. A manhunt followed, culminating in his arrest in Cherry Creek on the evening of October 20, 2016. He received a concurrent 10-month sentence for the escape.
Federal prosecutors secured the conviction through a dedicated investigation led by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Narcotics Division and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan handled the prosecution, successfully demonstrating LeCompte’s involvement in both the drug trafficking and the brazen escape. Judge Lange also ordered LeCompte to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
This isn’t a case of a first-time offender simply making a mistake. LeCompte actively chose to flout the law, endangering the community through his drug dealing and then demonstrating a complete disregard for the justice system by escaping custody. The combined sentence reflects the severity of his actions and sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.
Following the sentencing, LeCompte was immediately taken into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, marking the end of this chapter in a case that highlights the ongoing struggle against drug trafficking and the importance of maintaining secure correctional facilities within South Dakota. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal cases impacting communities across the nation.
RELATED: Promise Man Indicted for Meth Distribution in Tribal Areas
Related Federal Cases
- Eagle Butte Man Gets 13 Months for Meth House · South Dakota
- Eagle Butte Man Smokey Jandreau Copped to Meth Deals, Gun Possession · South Dakota
- Eagle Butte Man Indicted on Meth, Gun Charges · South Dakota
- Sioux Center Meth Dealer Lopez-Granillo Gets 6+ Years · Minnesota
- Ebony Cook Sentenced for Meth Distribution in Eagle Butte · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
