A woman from Eagle Butte, South Dakota, has been charged with a serious crime. Mary Etta Kessler, a/k/a Marietta Kessler, age 55, was indicted on February 13, 2019, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison and/or a $5,000,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count. Restitution may also be ordered.
Kessler allegedly conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The Indictment alleges that this conspiracy occurred at a time unknown, but no later than on April 1, 2016, and continuing to February 13, 2019, in South Dakota.
The charge is merely an accusation, and Kessler is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation into this case is being conducted by the Cheyenne River 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. Kessler was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
The case against Kessler serves as a reminder of the severity of the penalties for methamphetamine-related crimes. If convicted, she faces a maximum of life in prison and a $5 million fine.
According to the indictment, the alleged conspiracy involved the distribution and possession of methamphetamine, a highly addictive and potent controlled substance. The investigation into this case is ongoing, and we will continue to follow the developments.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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