OCTOBER 2024: United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell says four more individuals convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering have received their punishment from a federal judge. Nathan Johnson, age 39, from Denver, Colorado, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments on June 17, 2024. He was sentenced to 36 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200. Johnson was sentenced in September of 2024. Michele Johnson, age 48, from Steen, Minnesota, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments on July 29, 2024. She was sentenced to 31 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200. She was sentenced in October of 2024. Jesse Richmond, age 51, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments on June 18, 2024. He was sentenced to 24 years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200. Richmond was sentenced in September of 2024. Tony Hunter, age 53, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance on May 29, 2024. He was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Hunter was sentenced in September of 2024. Nathan Johnson, Michele Johnson, Matthew Thomas, Jesse Richmond, and Tony Hunter were originally indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. A third superseding indictment was filed in May of 2024 adding defendant, Alfred Siani. From December of 2022 to July of 2023, the above-mentioned defendants alongside numerous other co-conspirators transported large loads of methamphetamine from California to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Nathan Johnson, acting as the leader of the conspiracy, would travel from his home in Denver, Colorado to meet with his source of supply in Southern California. While there, Nathan Johnson would receive approximately 150-pounds worth of methamphetamine which would go on to be further distributed in Denver, Colorado, as well as South Dakota. While in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Nathan Johnson would distribute bulk amounts of methamphetamine to his co-conspirators: Jesse Richmond, Tony Hunter, and Michele Johnson. Richmond, Hunter, and Michele Johnson would go on to further distribute the methamphetamine throughout the Sioux Falls community and into southwest Minnesota. The amount of methamphetamine involved was in excess of 300 pounds and over $450,000 in drug proceeds were laundered during the existence of this conspiracy. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (including the Rocky Mountain Field Division, Omaha Field Division, Mexico City Country Office, Los Angeles Field Division, Special Operations Division), as well as South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, FBI, South Dakota Highway Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation team, El Paso Intelligence Center, and collaboration received from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Marshals Service, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Sioux Falls Police Department, Mitchell Police Department, Denver Police Department, Las Vegas Metro Police Department, Worthington Police Department, Brookings Police Department, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force, Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force, Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force, and the Colorado Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case. All four defendants were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A list of all of the defendants charged in the widespread conspiracy is below. Jessica Knight, 45, of Presho, South Dakota Christopher Spider, 44, of Presho, South Dakota Sapphire Big Eagle, 29, of Lower Brule, South Dakota Sunny Big Eagle, 48, of Lower Brule, South Dakota Marissa Apodaca, 36, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Nicholas Ganske, 44, of Tea, South Dakota Donald Wise, 42, of Crooks, South Dakota Jesus Salamo-Roche, 63, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Misty Turner, 34, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Donovan Pinkston, 37, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Destiny Wilson, 34, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Caitlin Schmidt, 29, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Nicholas Sherard, 35, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Terry Rider, 48, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Matthew Thomas, 51, of Denver, Colorado Lance Brunsting, 55, of Denver, Colorado Darrin Johnson, 42, of Denver, Colorado Donald Wagner, 68, of Denver, Colorado Hanna Felling, 39, of St. Cloud, Minnesota Cody Schmidt, 35, of Steen, Minnesota   MARCH 2024: United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced (March 4, 2024) a Tea, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Nicholas Ganske, 44, was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Ganske was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. He pleaded guilty on November 29, 2023. Ganske, along with his co-conspirators, was responsible for distributing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota. Ganske would meet a co-conspirator to purchase drugs, which both knew Ganske would then sell to others in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area. The investigation is being led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from other law enforcement agencies such as: FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Brookings Police Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Rock County (MN) Sheriff’s Office, Worthington (MN) Police Department, and the Mitchell Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen.   FEBRUARY 22, 2024: United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that 24 individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. On February 5, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced the first of 24 co-conspirators, 36 year old Marissa Apodaca of Sioux Falls to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Apodaca was further ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. She pleaded guilty to the charge of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance on October 30, 2023. A list of all of the defendants charged in the widespread conspiracy is below. Jessica Knight, 45, of Presho, South Dakota Christopher Spider, 44, of Presho, South Dakota Sapphire Big Eagle, 29, of Lower Brule, South Dakota Sunny Big Eagle, 48, of Lower Brule, South Dakota Marissa Apodaca, 36, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Jesse Richmond, 50, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Tony Hunter, a/k/a “Ox,” 52, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Nicholas Ganske, 44, of Tea, South Dakota Donald Wise, 42, of Crooks, South Dakota Jesus Salamo-Roche, 63, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Misty Turner, 34, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Donovan Pinkston, 37, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Destiny Wilson, 34, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Caitlin Schmidt, 29, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Nicholas Sherard, 35, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Terry Rider, 48, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Nathan Johnson, 38, of Denver, Colorado Matthew Thomas, 51, of Denver, Colorado Lance Brunsting, 55, of Denver, Colorado Darrin Johnson, 42, of Denver, Colorado Donald Wagner, 68, of Denver, Colorado Michele Johnson, 48, of Steen, Minnesota Hanna Felling, 39, of St. Cloud, Minnesota Cody Schmidt, 35, of Steen, Minnesota The grand jury also charged Nathan Johnson, Michele Johnson, Matthew Thomas, and Jesse Richmond with Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, and Tony Hunter with possession of a firearm by a felon. All individuals were indicted on August 8, 2023. The Indictments allege that from an unknown date through July 26, 2023, the above-listed individuals conspired with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in South Dakota and elsewhere. The money laundering charges allege that from an unknown date to July 26, 2023, the four above-listed defendants conspired to conduct financial transactions which involved the proceeds from this drug conspiracy. The charges are merely accusations, and the individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Since Indictment, each defendant has appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy and pleaded not guilty. Nathan Johnson, Michele Johnson, Matthew Thomas, Jesse Richmond, Tony Hunter, Nicholas Ganske, Donald Wise, Jesus Salamo-Roche, Donald Wagner, Nicholas Sherard and Terry Rider all face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years upon conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and a maximum of life in federal prison. All other defendants face a penalty upon conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance of up to 20 years in federal prison. The money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The investigation is being led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from other law enforcement agencies such as: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Brookings Police Department, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, Rock County (MN) Sheriff’s Office, Worthington (MN) Police Department, and Mitchell Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen.