Olympia Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Marijuana Trafficking Ring

Aberdeen, SD – A brazen marijuana trafficking ring that crisscrossed the country has been dealt a crushing blow with the sentencing of a key player in the operation.

U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann handed down the sentence to Lawrence Swan, 63, of Olympia, Washington, who was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on June 10, 2024, at the federal courthouse in Aberdeen.

The racket, which saw Swan transport over 280 pounds of marijuana across the country to be sold in several states, including South Dakota, was a profitable one. However, the defendant’s luck ran out when he was stopped outside of McLaughlin, South Dakota, on December 13, 2021, and found to have over 80 pounds of marijuana, methamphetamine, and a large amount of cash in his possession.

Swan admitted to making five different trips across the country distributing marijuana during the course of the conspiracy, which lasted between January 1, 2020, and December 13, 2021. The defendant pleaded guilty on March 10, 2024, after being indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2022.

As part of his sentence, Swan was ordered to serve five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The U.S. Marshals Service took custody of Swan immediately after the sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Corson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case, bringing an end to a long and complex investigation that saw the defendant’s activities span multiple states.

Swan’s conviction is a stark reminder of the dangers of marijuana trafficking and the consequences that come with it. As the opioid crisis continues to ravage communities across the country, it’s clear that there are those who will exploit the system for their own gain.

The sentencing of Lawrence Swan sends a strong message to those involved in marijuana trafficking: you will be caught and you will face the full force of the law.