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Shawn Russell Sorensen, Methamphetamine Trafficking, South Dakota 2024
Shawn Russell Sorensen, a 54-year-old Sioux Falls resident, has been found guilty of methamphetamine trafficking and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. According to the federal jury’s verdict, Sorensen was involved in a conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine, a charge that carries a mandatory life sentence and/or a $20 million fine due to his prior felony drug convictions.
The investigation into Sorensen’s activities began when the United States Postal Service intercepted a package containing a half-pound of cocaine and 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Further investigation linked the package to Sorensen, who had allegedly received multiple packages of this nature. When Sorensen’s vehicle was stopped by law enforcement, he was found in possession of three firearms and ammunition.
The case was investigated by a joint effort of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Rock County, Minnesota Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer D. Mammenga and John E. Haak prosecuted the case.
As a result of the guilty verdict, Sorensen has been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A presentence investigation has been ordered, but no sentencing date has been set at this time. The charges against Sorensen include Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine) and Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon.
The maximum sentence for the gun charge is 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, along with 3 years of supervised release. Each offense also carries a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. With his prior felony drug convictions, Sorensen’s methamphetamine charge carries significant consequences.
Shawn Russell Sorensen’s case serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat methamphetamine trafficking in South Dakota and the surrounding areas. The joint investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to hold individuals accountable for their involvement in illicit activities.
Shawn Russell Sorensen, 54, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was found guilty of drugs and weapons charges as a result of a federal jury trial in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Sorensen was charged by indictment with Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine), and Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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