Methamphetamine Trafficking in South Dakota
A Las Vegas, Nevada, man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Jesse Stewart, 47, was sentenced on March 18, 2022 by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier for his conviction of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine.
The investigation, which began in September 2019, revealed that Stewart sold methamphetamine in Rapid City and arranged for Edward Martin, the leader of the conspiracy, to come to the area and expand their efforts.
Between summer 2019 and December 2019, at least five to 15 kilograms of methamphetamine was sent to Rapid City from Las Vegas. The investigation also revealed that Stewart was involved in tracking mailed packages of methamphetamine and receiving money wire transfers for the shipped methamphetamine.
On December 19, 2019, law enforcement searched Martin’s hotel room and located Stewart, eight ounces of methamphetamine, a firearm, $5,066 in cash, and other items indicative of drug distribution.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Inspector, and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET). UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn N. Rich and Eric Kelderman prosecuted the case. Stewart was immediately returned to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Related Federal Cases
- Sarah Johnson, Methamphetamine Trafficking, South Dakota 2020 · New York
- Bruce Gerald Cole, Interstate Marijuana Smuggling, South Dakota 2009 · New Hampshire
- California Man Sentenced to 23 Years for Meth and Fentanyl Trafficking · New York
- Todd Deutsch, Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, South Dakota 2023 · South Dakota
- William Waldemar Godoy, Human Trafficking, South Dakota 2024 · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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