SIOUX FALLS, SD – Matthew Williams, 33, of Yankton, South Dakota, will spend the next 22 years in federal prison after being sentenced for distributing fentanyl that caused a serious, near-fatal overdose. Chief U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange handed down the sentence on July 7, 2025, following Williams’ guilty plea earlier this year.
The case stems from a harrowing incident on March 17, 2022, when Williams knowingly peddled a fentanyl-laced pill to a customer. That customer immediately overdosed, requiring a desperate intervention by paramedics. Thankfully, a dose of Narcan reversed the effects, saving the victim from certain death. But near-death isn’t ‘good enough’ to avoid federal time.
Williams was initially indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023, and after months of legal maneuvering, pleaded guilty on April 2, 2025, to the charge of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The prosecution successfully argued that Williams acted with reckless disregard for human life, prioritizing profit over the well-being of his customers.
Beyond the two-decade-plus prison sentence, Williams will also serve a four-year term of supervised release following his incarceration. He’s also been ordered to pay a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund – a paltry sum considering the potential cost of the victim’s care and the trauma inflicted.
The investigation was spearheaded by the Sioux Falls Police Department, with Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb handling the prosecution. They built a solid case, proving Williams’ direct involvement in putting a life on the line for a quick buck.
Following the sentencing, Williams was immediately taken into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence. This conviction sends a clear message: dealing fentanyl, especially with such blatant disregard for human life, will be met with the full force of federal law. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing fentanyl crisis ravaging communities nationwide.
RELATED: Yankton Drug Dealer Gets 22-Year Sentence for Fentanyl Overdose
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- Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to 20 Years for Fentanyl Overdose Distribution · South Dakota
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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