United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on February 10, 2020, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.

Andrew Bunch, age 30, was sentenced to 324 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.

Bunch was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 14, 2019.  He pled guilty on November 19, 2019.

The conviction stemmed from a conspiracy beginning in the spring of 2018 and continuing through May 2019, in which Bunch, his friend Nathan Thoe (deceased), Nikki Hopkins and others, intentionally distributed and possessed with intent to distribute 2.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance in and around the Pierre and Ft. Pierre areas.

During the course of the conspiracy, Bunch, Thoe, and Hopkins made numerous trips to Colorado to obtain methamphetamine.  Bunch and Thoe routinely carried firearms on these trips and used firearms to protect their product.  Hopkins was sentenced on January 27, 2020, to 10 years in federal prison.

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 is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Pierre Police Department, the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  Assistant U.S. Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.

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

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man and woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

Andrew Bunch, age 29, and Nicole Hopkins, age 35, were indicted on May 14, 2019, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Bunch was also indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.  They both appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 16, 2019, and both pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison and/or a $10,000,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each Count.  Restitution may also be ordered. 

The Indictments allege that beginning at a time unknown, but no later than on or about the 1st day of March 2018, and continuing to on or about the 1st day of February 2019, in the District of South Dakota and elsewhere, Bunch and Hopkins, did knowingly and intentionally, combine, conspire, confederate, and agree with persons known and unknown, to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The charges are merely accusations and Bunch and Hopkins are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

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.

The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Pierre Police Department, Stanley County Sheriff’s office, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.       

Bunch was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and Hopkins was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.