Jessi Barrera, Possession with Intent to Distribute, South Dakota 2020

A shocking case of drug trafficking has come to light in South Dakota, with a local woman facing severe penalties if convicted.

According to sources, Jessi Barrera, a 33-year-old Mission woman, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

The indictment, which was handed down on March 9, 2020, alleges that Barrera knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, and aided and abetted others in the distribution of meth on the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to 40 years in prison and/or a $5,000,000 fine, at least 4 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each Count. Restitution may also be ordered.

Barrera appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on April 14, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment. She was released on bond pending trial, with a trial date yet to be set.

The investigation into Barrera’s alleged crimes is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.

The charge against Barrera is merely an accusation, and she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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