Faith Ashley Rasmussen, Marijuana Distribution and Money Laundering, South Dakota 2014

Related Federal Cases

California Man Sentenced for Marijuana Distribution Conspiracy · South Dakota
Two Men Sentenced In Marijuana Distribution Conspiracy · South Dakota
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Over 16 Years for Meth Distribution · South Dakota
Calif. Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Fentanyl & Meth Distribution · South Dakota
California Man Sentenced in Massive Marijuana Ring · South Dakota

Table of Contents

Tea Woman Sentenced in Marijuana Distribution

A 21-year-old woman from Tea, South Dakota, has been sentenced to prison for her role in a marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracy.

Faith Ashley Rasmussen was sentenced to 80 months in prison on each count of Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, to run concurrently. She will also face four years of supervised release for the drug charge and one year for the money laundering charge, both to run concurrently.

Rasmussen was indicted along with three others by a federal grand jury on March 5, 2014, for her involvement in the conspiracy, which lasted from January 2012 to December 2013. She pled guilty to both offenses on September 2, 2014.

According to court documents, Rasmussen received marijuana through the mail from her source of supply in California. However, as the quantities increased, she arranged for co-conspirators to drive from California to South Dakota with large quantities of marijuana.

The group also formed a scheme to launder money, where Rasmussen deposited the proceeds of marijuana sales into her bank account in South Dakota. She also instructed a co-conspirator to deposit marijuana proceeds into her account, always staying under the $10,000 threshold to avoid bank reporting requirements.

The investigation into Rasmussen’s activities was conducted by the Sioux Falls Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Haak prosecuted the case.

RELATED: Doc Scams Medicare

RELATED: Predator Caught