Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Over 16 Years for Meth Distribution

SIOUX FALLS – In a hard-hitting blow against drug trafficking, United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced Edward Ward to 16 years and eight months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

The sentencing on April 22, 2024, marks the culmination of a relentless investigation into Ward’s illegal activities.

Ward, 52, from Sioux Falls, was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023 and pleaded guilty on January 23, 2024. His crime spree included obtaining methamphetamine through the mail from California and redistributing it across South Dakota.

In a dramatic turn of events, Ward sold approximately four ounces of meth to an informant on May 3, 2022, followed by another 5.5 ounces just two weeks later. He completed his triumphant run with an additional eleven ounces on May 26, totaling around 100 pounds of the drug.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Sioux Falls Police Department have been at the forefront of this case, ensuring justice was served. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case with unwavering determination.

As a result of his crimes, Ward faces five years of supervised release and is ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. He has been immediately remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.