Three Men Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking
South Dakota – Three men have been sentenced to 20-year federal prison terms for their involvement in methamphetamine trafficking conspiracies in the Sioux Falls area.
Larry Tyler McKay, 41, and Diane Thomsen, 51, both of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, were each sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier. The time in prison served by these defendants will be followed by ten years of supervised release. They each were also ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victim’s Fund.
Mckay was sentenced on August 20, 2018, and Thomsen was sentenced on August 27, 2018.
The investigation of Thomsen and McKay revealed their joint involvement in distributing over 20 pounds of methamphetamine to Sioux Falls. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement found McKay in possession of approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine and several firearms. Multiple search warrants executed at Thomsen’s residence yielded over 430 grams of methamphetamine.
Ochoa-Ortiz was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 8, 2017, and pled guilty on June 8, 2018. The investigation of Ochoa-Ortiz revealed his role as a source of methamphetamine to co-conspirators Cody Baade, Corey Roelfsema, and Anthony Haron, for the purpose of distributing the methamphetamine in Sioux Falls. During the course of Ochoa-Ortiz’s involvement, he was responsible for arranging the delivery of over 60 pounds of methamphetamine to Sioux Falls from Arizona.
“Meth is a scourge on our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “The sentences imposed on these criminal defendants reflect the gravity of their crimes. The poison they were seeking to sell in South Dakota would have brought untold suffering to our residents.”
The cases were investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer D. Mammenga prosecuted both cases.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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