Jamaul Carter, Meth Conspiracy, South Dakota 2023

PIERRE, S.D. – Jamaul Carter, 35, of Long Beach, California, is facing a quarter-century behind bars after being sentenced Monday for his role as a key supplier in a massive methamphetamine distribution network that targeted central South Dakota, including the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange of the U.S. District Court handed down the 25-year federal prison sentence, followed by seven years of supervised release.

Carter, also known as “Mud” and “Mudd Roll,” pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Federal prosecutors detailed a sprawling operation that ran from September 2021 through November 2022. The investigation revealed Carter wasn’t a street-level dealer, but the source, shipping and sometimes personally delivering multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine directly to individuals on the Rosebud Reservation. The total amount of methamphetamine linked to Carter’s conspiracy exceeds 100 pounds – a staggering volume of the highly addictive Schedule II controlled substance.

The case originated with a federal grand jury indictment in October 2022, and quickly unfolded to expose a network reliant on Carter’s California supply line. Instead of small-time transactions, Carter was moving significant amounts of product, fueling addiction and crime across a wide geographical area. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, led by Alison J. Ramsdell, pursued the case aggressively, highlighting the devastating impact of methamphetamine on vulnerable communities.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges successfully prosecuted the case, presenting evidence gathered by a multi-agency task force. The FBI’s Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives all contributed to the investigation. The collaborative effort underscores the seriousness with which federal agencies are tackling drug trafficking in tribal lands.

In addition to the lengthy prison sentence, Carter was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The court immediately remanded Carter to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, ending his freedom and signaling a clear message that large-scale drug trafficking will not be tolerated. This sentencing should serve as a deterrent to others considering similar criminal activity in the region.

The Rosebud Sioux Reservation, like many Native American communities, faces disproportionately high rates of substance abuse and related crime. This conviction and sentencing represent a significant blow to a network that was actively exploiting these vulnerabilities. While one arrest won’t solve the broader problem, it demonstrates a commitment to disrupting the flow of dangerous drugs and protecting the health and safety of residents.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Drug Trafficking

Kabaka Atiba, Cocaine Trafficking, New Jersey 2022

Oct 13, 2017

Drug Trafficking

Terrance Bradley, Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking, West Virginia 2026

Dec 12, 2025

Drug Trafficking

Rogelio Molina, Methamphetamine Possession, Nebraska 2021

Jul 8, 2022

Drug Trafficking

Alexander Maizels, Marijuana Charge, New York 2023

Feb 1, 2018