RAPID CITY – In a significant blow to illicit drug trade in South Dakota, a Pine Ridge man has been sentenced to 19 years and seven months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Carrying a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Offense.
James Shangreaux, 43, was sentenced on January 27, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler. The sentence also includes five years of supervised release, and Shangreaux was ordered to pay $200 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture of the pistol was also ordered.
Shangreaux was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025 and pleaded guilty on September 18, 2025. The investigation revealed that Shangreaux conspired with others to distribute at least 350 grams of methamphetamine in Rapid City and within the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Shangreaux acted as an organizer and leader of the conspiracy, making trips to Colorado, as well as wiring money to his source of supply. The conspiracy was exposed following a pursuit that was terminated near the reservation and State boundary line. When ultimately taken into custody, Shangreaux was found in possession of methamphetamine as well as a 9mm caliber pistol that he attempted to conceal.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of law enforcement to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen handled the prosecution. Shangreaux was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Shangreaux’s lengthy prison sentence is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat the opioid epidemic and reduce gun violence in our communities. The District of South Dakota, through Project Safe Neighborhood, is committed to bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Related Federal Cases
- James Rutledge, Meth Trafficking and Gun Charges, South Dakota 2020 · South Dakota
- Shelina Martinez, Methamphetamine Distribution, South Dakota 2025 · Wyoming
- Michael Cole, Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Distribution, South Dakota 2023 · South Dakota
- Jackie Corean, Methamphetamine Distribution, South Dakota 2025 · Wyoming
- Juan Antonio Garcia Jr, Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy, South Dakota · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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