⏱ 2 min read
John Stanford Roth, a 58-year-old Arizona man, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The conviction came after a three-day trial that ended on July 8, 2026. Roth worked with a drug trafficking organization led by Matthew Shade to distribute cartel-sourced fentanyl and methamphetamine from Arizona to Sioux Falls. The organization delivered over 200 pounds of methamphetamine to the area in just eight months.
Roth’s conviction is the latest in a series of take-downs of the Shade organization. Matthew Shade, the leader of the organization, pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to over 21 years in federal prison. Thirteen defendants have been indicted in connection with the organization, with Roth being the tenth to be convicted.
The investigation was led by the United States Postal Investigations Service and the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Connie Larson and Mark Hodges.
Roth faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release. The conviction is a significant blow to the Shade organization and a victory for law enforcement in the fight against drug trafficking.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: fentanyl
- Location: SD
- Source: DOJ Press Release
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking