Sioux Falls Pair Sentenced for Meth Distribution

United States Attorney Ron Parsons dropped a heavy blow on the criminal underworld, announcing that two South Dakota outlaws have been handed down sentences for their involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. In a grim ceremony held on August 25, 2020, U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol sentenced Tyler Justin Hausten, alias “Red,” and Tara Lynn Clark to long stretches of federal imprisonment.

Hausten, the ringmaster at age 40, was locked away for 126 months behind bars, with an additional five years of supervised release and a $100 fine to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Clark, aged 35, faced no less severe punishment, receiving 110 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and the same fine as her co-conspirator.

Their descent into criminality began on an unspecified date and ended with their agreement to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine across the District of South Dakota, a Scheduled II controlled substance. Hausten and Clark were not only participants but also knew exactly what their understanding entailed. Their path to justice started when law enforcement halted their vehicle on November 3, 2019, uncovering over 500 grams of the deadly drug.

This case was a collaborative effort between the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Police Department, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Nash stood vigilant in the prosecution of Hausten and Clark. Post-conviction, they were promptly handed over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, ensuring their presence would be felt for years to come.

Hausten and Clark were indicted on March 3, 2020, with Hausten entering a guilty plea on May 21, 2020, and Clark following suit on June 3, 2020. The message is clear: in the heartland of South Dakota, meth traffickers will face the full might of federal justice.

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