Heroin Kingpins Brought To Justice In Sioux Falls

State: South Dakota
Category: Drug Trafficking
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/opioid-crisis-update-men-make-federal-appearances-heroin-charges" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

In a major blow to the heroin trade in Sioux Falls, three men have made federal appearances on charges related to their heroin distribution in the area.

Maurice Cathey, 37, of Chicago, Illinois, was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to distribute heroin resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Cathey appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on July 19, 2018, and was returned to the custody of the Minnehaha County Sheriff. If convicted, Cathey faces a mandatory period of twenty years in prison and a maximum of life.

Jacob Lottman, 25, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was indicted by a federal grand jury for distribution of heroin resulting in serious bodily injury. Lottman appeared before Judge Duffy on July 13, 2018, and was placed into the custody of the U.S. Marshals. If convicted, Lottman faces a mandatory period of twenty years in prison and a maximum of life.

Devlin Tommeraasen, 23, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to distribute heroin. Tommeraasen appeared before Judge Duffy on July 19, 2018, and was placed into the custody of the U.S. Marshals. If convicted, Tommeraasen faces a maximum of twenty years in prison.

The charges are merely accusations and these defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is working closely with the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and our other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute these cases.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid much stronger than heroin, has been linked to many of the drug overdoses occurring in South Dakota in the past year. Even a tiny amount of fentanyl can kill, and its estimated lethal dose in humans is two milligrams, the mass of about two grains of salt.

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