Meth Man Morris Gets 10 Years Federal Time

RAPID CITY, SD – A Minnesota man is headed to federal prison after a hefty bust near Sturgis, South Dakota. Jeremy Morris, 44, of Orr, Minnesota, received a 10-year sentence from U.S. Circuit Judge Jonathan A. Kobes on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentence doesn’t stop there – Morris will also serve five years of supervised release and pay a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The case began to unfold in July of 2022 when a federal grand jury indicted Morris on the drug charge. He quickly entered a guilty plea on October 14, 2022, seemingly accepting his fate. But the details of what led to those charges are far from a quick acceptance. Law enforcement pulled over Morris while he was traveling near the infamous motorcycle rally town of Sturgis.

What they found wasn’t just highway scenery. A search of Morris’s vehicle turned up a staggering 4.985 kilograms of methamphetamine – nearly five kilos of pure poison – along with a firearm. Morris didn’t bother denying his intentions; he admitted he planned to further distribute the meth, meaning this wasn’t a personal stash.

The bust was a coordinated effort by multiple agencies, demonstrating the power of multi-jurisdictional task forces. The Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), along with its northern counterpart, UNET-N, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension all contributed to the investigation. UNET comprises officers from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and even the South Dakota National Guard. UNET-N includes Spearfish Police Department, Deadwood Police Department, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich successfully prosecuted the case, bringing Morris to justice. The evidence was clear, the plea was entered, and the judge delivered a sentence reflecting the seriousness of the crime. Morris was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, ending his road trip and beginning a decade-long stay in federal prison.

This case serves as a stark reminder that drug trafficking will not be tolerated in South Dakota, or anywhere else under federal jurisdiction. Law enforcement remains vigilant in intercepting these dangerous substances and holding those responsible accountable for their actions. The streets are a little safer with Morris behind bars, but the fight against the flow of methamphetamine continues.

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