United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Watertown, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on September 23, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

Danny Ray Callahan, Jr., age 40, was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison, 5 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. He is the last of six defendants to be sentenced.

The conviction stems from a methamphetamine conspiracy in and around the Watertown and Sisseton, South Dakota areas from November 23, 2017 through February 28, 2018. The conspiracy involved over 500 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Callahan, and three other co-defendants, Alexis Dumarce, Amos Hall and Dayvon Byrd, were selling methamphetamine brought to South Dakota from California by co-defendants Josh Paul and Victor Caperon. Caperon and Paul were found with six pounds of methamphetamine on February 28, 2018 during a traffic stop in Corson County, South Dakota. This methamphetamine was intended for sale in the Watertown and Sisseton areas. 

This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Corson County Sheriff’s Office, Mobridge Police Department and the Watertown Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.

Callahan was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

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United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that two men convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

Dayvon Byrd, age 29, from Watertown, South Dakota, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Joshua Noel Paul, age 38, from Watertown, South Dakota, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime, was sentenced to 211 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Byrd was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 13, 2018, and a Superseding Information was filed on November 16, 2011.  He pled guilty on December 7, 2018. Paul was indicated by a federal grand jury on March 13, 2018, and a Superseding Indictment was filed on June 12, 2018.  He pled guilty on September 14, 2018.

The convictions stem from a methamphetamine conspiracy in and around the Watertown and Sisseton areas from November 23, 2017, through February 28, 2018. The conspiracy involved over 500 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. Byrd, and three other co-defendants, Alexis Dumarce, Amos Hall, and Danny Callahan, were selling methamphetamine brought to South Dakota from California by Paul and co-defendant Victor Caperon. Caperon and Paul were found with six pounds of methamphetamine on February 28, 2018, during a traffic stop in Corson County, South Dakota. This methamphetamine was intended for sale in the Watertown and Sisseton areas. 

Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity.  Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers.  It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Corson County Sheriff’s Office, Mobridge Police Department, and the Watertown Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.

Byrd and Paul were immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that two men and one woman were convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and were sentenced on May 14, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

Victor Manuel Caperon, age 36, from San Diego, California, convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Amos Hall, a/k/a Amos Lee Hall, IV, age 36, from Watertown, South Dakota, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Alexis Dumarce, age 31, from Watertown, South Dakota, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Caperon was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 13, 2018.  He pled guilty on November 14, 2018. Hall and Dumarce were indicted by a federal grand jury on June 13, 2018. They pled guilty on November 13, 2018.

The convictions stem from a methamphetamine conspiracy in and around the Watertown and Sisseton, South Dakota areas from November 23, 2017, through February 28, 2018. The conspiracy involved over 500 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.  Hall, Dumarce, and two other co-defendants, Dyvon Byrd and Danny Callahan, were selling methamphetamine brought to South Dakota from California by Caperon and co-defendant Josh Paul. Caperon and Paul were found with six pounds of methamphetamine on February 28, 2018, during a traffic stop in Corson County, South Dakota. This methamphetamine was intended for sale in the Watertown and Sisseton areas. 

This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Corson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Watertown Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.

Caperon, Hall, and Dumarce were immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.  Byrd, Callahan, and Paul are set to be sentenced on June 3, 2019.

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that three men and one woman from Watertown, South Dakota, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Amos Hall, a/k/a Amos Lee Hall, IV, age 35, was indicted on June 13, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on August 16, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

Dayvon Byrd, age 28, was indicted on June 13, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on June 29, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

Danny Callahan, age 39, was indicted on June 13, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on July 19, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

Alexis Dumarce, age 30, was indicted on June 13, 2018.  She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on June 28, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison and/or a $10,000,000 fine, at least 5 years, up to life, of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on or about November 23, 2017, and continuing to on or about February 28, 2018, Hall, Byrd, Callahan, and Dumarce knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed with persons known and unknown to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, which is a Schedule II controlled substance. 

The charge is merely an accusation and Hall, Byrd, Callahan, and Dumarce, are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.   

Callahan was released on Bond.  Hall, Byrd, and Dumarce were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for August 28, 2018.