PIERRE – In a hard-hitting blow against the meth trade in central South Dakota, Scott Reiners, 37, from Pierre, has been sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison for his role as a drug kingpin. On July 14, 2025, U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte handed down the sentence, which includes five years of supervised release and a $1,000 fine.
Reiners was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024 and pleaded guilty on April 3, 2025. The charges stemmed from a drug conspiracy between September 2022 and April 2023, where Reiners and associates aimed to distribute methamphetamine, including within the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservations.
During the conspiracy, law enforcement seized 254 grams of high-purity meth from Reiners during a traffic stop, along with a handgun. His previous felony convictions disqualified him from firearm possession, making his arrest all the more significant. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and ATF, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
This conviction is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative that aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence across America. PSN operates on principles of fostering community trust, supporting local organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results for public safety.
The case represents a victory for law enforcement and a stark reminder of the consequences facing those who traffic in dangerous substances. Reiners was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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