⏱ 2 min read
A California man has been found guilty of conspiring to distribute massive quantities of methamphetamine in South Dakota. John Odom Harris Jr., 41, of Stockton, was convicted of sending over 100 pounds of meth to the state between early 2023 and early 2024. Harris used the mail and also provided the drugs to a co-conspirator in California, who then transported them to South Dakota by car and train.
Harris’s co-conspirator, Marquez McGee, was caught with 42 pounds of meth in January 2024 and was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. Harris faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case, which was tried in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons warned meth dealers to avoid South Dakota, saying they would be wise to ‘cross it off their list.’ The verdict was returned on July 10, 2026, after a four-day jury trial. A presentence investigation has been ordered, and sentencing will be set for a later date.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: South Dakota
- Location: SD
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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