Justin Morales, Interstate Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison, South Dakota 2018
A major interstate methamphetamine dealer has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in South Dakota. Justin Morales, a/k/a 'Speedy,' age 36, of Wichita, Kansas, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
On May 18, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence. Morales will serve three decades in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victim's Fund.
'This is an appropriate sentence for this repeat offender and committed drug dealer,' said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons. 'Those who conspire to sell illegal drugs like methamphetamine and lethal opioids are inflicting tremendous suffering and death on our communities. They will be held accountable.'
Federal law enforcement officials discovered that Morales was selling methamphetamine in early 2016. During a controlled purchase for five ounces of methamphetamine between Morales and a cooperating witness, Morales was recorded telling the cooperator that he and others sold methamphetamine in several South Dakota cities, and at least one Indian reservation within the state.
Morales said that his plan was to get a house in Sioux Falls that could be used exclusively to store methamphetamine for distribution. In September 2016, the cooperator met with Morales again, and Morales was recorded telling the cooperator he was preparing to ship 20 pounds of methamphetamine to Sioux Falls, and that he had rented a small house on the west side of Sioux Falls to store the methamphetamine.
Law enforcement was able to recover three pounds of marijuana, two pounds of methamphetamine, and a semi-automatic pistol connected to Morales and his co-conspirators, Chase Guzman and Daniel Guzman. All three men were arrested in Sioux Falls. Morales and both Guzmans were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2016.
Both Chase Guzman and Daniel Guzman pleaded guilty. Chase Guzman was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and Daniel Guzman was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Morales was found guilty by a federal jury in Sioux Falls on February 7, 2018. This is Morales's second felony drug conviction.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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