United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on January 30, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Lonnie Ray Erickson, age 51, was sentenced to 132 months in custody, 5 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Erickson was also ordered to forfeit U.S. currency, firearms, and ammunition seized by law enforcement.
Erickson was initially indicted by a federal grand jury on August 11, 2015. A Superseding Indictment was filed on December 8, 2015, and a second Superseding Indictment was filed on May 7, 2016. Erickson pled guilty on November 8, 2016.
Between March of 2015 and May of 2016, Erickson knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, in South Dakota. Erickson received distributable quantities of methamphetamine and distributed it to others within South Dakota. The individuals who provided Erickson with methamphetamine knew that he intended to engage in further distribution. It was reasonably foreseeable to Erickson that more than 500 grams of methamphetamine would be distributed during the course of the conspiracy.
On July 26, 2015, and October 15, 2015, cash, firearms, and ammunition were seized by law enforcement from Erickson. Methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia were also seized from Erickson on October 15, 2015.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.
Erickson was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.