Pierre Woman Gets 21 Years for Meth Conspiracy

PIERRE, SD – Misty Stahlhoefer, 42, of Pierre, South Dakota, will spend the next 21 years of her life behind bars after being sentenced for her central role in a major methamphetamine distribution ring that flooded the Pierre area with the deadly drug. U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte handed down the sentence on July 21, 2025, following Stahlhoefer’s guilty plea earlier this year.

The conspiracy, which ran rampant from June 2023 through September 2024, saw Stahlhoefer and her co-defendant, Heather Stahlhoefer, acting as primary suppliers, acquiring up to a pound of methamphetamine per trip. They weren’t just holding – they were distributing, fueling addiction and misery throughout the community. The operation involved a staggering 30 to 35 pounds of methamphetamine, enough to devastate countless lives.

“Misty Stahlhoefer and her local co-conspirators are facing significant time in federal prison for pushing drugs that are ravaging our communities,” declared U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Drug traffickers should take note that in South Dakota, they will be met with the full force of law enforcement.” This wasn’t some small-time operation; it was a calculated, large-scale effort to profit from human suffering.

Federal investigators revealed that the Stahlhoefer sisters weren’t working alone. They supplied a network of distributors including Whitney Marrowbone, Wendy Mealer, Brent Larvie, David Rinehart, and Heath Choal. Marrowbone already received 11 years in federal prison for their part. Mealer got six. Larvie, four and a half years. Rinehart, a mere two. Heather Stahlhoefer herself received an 18-year sentence. Choal is still awaiting sentencing, scheduled for September 2, 2025.

“For years, Misty Stahlhoefer distributed illegal drugs in the Pierre, SD area,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. “Stahlhoefer will pay dearly for her reprehensible conduct. Those who choose to harm our community by enriching themselves and leading others to drug addiction will pay a heavy price.” The investigation, a collaborative effort between the FBI’s Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Pierre Police Department, the Chamberlain Police Department, and the Lyman County Sheriff’s Office, shows a united front against the poison plaguing South Dakota.

In addition to the 21-year prison sentence, Stahlhoefer will face five years of supervised release and is ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. She was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case, ensuring that justice – however belated – was served in this case of blatant disregard for human life.

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