Rapid City’s Kiana Pilcher Sentenced for Money Laundering in Cocaine Ring

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced a grim sentence for Kiana Pilcher, 29, from Rapid City, South Dakota. Pilcher was sentenced to two years and 11 months in federal prison for her role in a cocaine conspiracy money laundering scheme. The sentencing by District Judge Karen E. Schreier took place on July 25, 2025.

Pilcher pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering on May 5, 2025. She is accused of aiding multiple individuals in the distribution of cocaine by facilitating the movement of drug proceeds through electronic transactions. Over $90,000 in cash was funneled through Pilcher’s account before being sent to drug sources in Texas.

This case has been a joint effort between the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Division of Criminal Investigation. UNET includes law enforcement from various local agencies, including the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, and South Dakota National Guard.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case against Pilcher. The sentence also includes three years of supervised release after her prison term and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Pilcher’s involvement in the conspiracy resulted in over three kilograms of cocaine being distributed in the Rapid City area, marking a significant blow to drug trafficking operations in the region.

Following her sentencing, Pilcher was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.