Sara Bailey, Heroin Trafficking, South Dakota 2020

A Rapid City woman has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for her role in a heroin trafficking ring that distributed nearly 2000 grams of heroin in the city.

Sara Bailey, a/k/a Sara Johnson, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken on May 1, 2020, to 20 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The conviction stemmed from Bailey conspiring with others to distribute nearly 2000 grams of heroin between May and August 2018 at Rapid City. Bailey's distribution of heroin included injecting and providing heroin to a 15-year-old during the same time period.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), which is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the South Dakota National Guard.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case. Bailey was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

According to the prosecution, Bailey's actions had devastating consequences for the community, particularly for the 15-year-old victim who was exploited by her heroin distribution activities.

The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of heroin trafficking and the importance of law enforcement's efforts to combat it.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/rapid-city-woman-sentenced-heroin-trafficking-charges