Pine Ridge Woman Gets 19-Year Sentence for Meth Distribution

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell dropped a heavy hammer today in Rapid City, announcing that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced Kealey Twiss to 19 years and two months in federal prison for her leading role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.

Twiss, a 32-year-old from Pine Ridge, South Dakota, pleaded guilty on June 9, 2025, to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance after she was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024. The sentencing hearing occurred on September 19, 2025.

The investigation into Twiss’s activities revealed that she and her associates were instrumental in distributing significant amounts of methamphetamine in both Pine Ridge and Rapid City. Twiss took the lead, setting prices, organizing distribution networks, and making interstate trips to secure more meth for sale within South Dakota.

Judge Schreier, in handing down a 230-month sentence, expressed her stern disapproval of the meth’s devastating impact on the Pine Ridge community. ‘This sentence reflects the severity of the crime and its consequences,’ said Judge Schreier.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth handled the prosecution.

Following the sentencing, Twiss was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service to serve her lengthy term.

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