United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, was sentenced on August 26, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Micole Lynn Menard, age 36, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for the conspiracy conviction. She was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for the firearm conviction. The sentences will be served concurrently. In addition, Menard was ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.

Menard was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 13, 2018. She pled guilty on May 2, 2019.

The conviction stemmed from a conspiracy that occurred between October 1, 2016, and January 31, 2017, in which Menard and co-defendant Walter Wright, knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute between 1.5 kilograms and 5 kilograms of methamphetamine.  Further, on January 18, 2017, during the execution of a search warrant at their home, 267 grams of methamphetamine and other drug paraphilia were seized from the home along with four firearms.  Menard, being an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance, did knowingly illegally possess those firearms.

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 and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.

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

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, was sentenced on July 29, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Walter Willard Wright, age 37, was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for the conspiracy conviction. He was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for the firearm conviction. The sentences will be served concurrently.  Also, a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200 was ordered.

Wright was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 13, 2018.  He pled guilty on May 2, 2019.

The conviction stemmed from a conspiracy that occurred between October 1, 2016, and January 31, 2017, in which Wright and Co-Defendant Micole Menard, knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute between 1.5 kilograms and 5 kilograms of methamphetamine.  Further, on January 18, 2017, during the execution of a search warrant at the Wright’s home, 267 grams of methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia was seized from the home along with four firearms.  Wright, being a felon and unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance, did knowingly illegally possess those firearms.

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 and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.

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

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that two Mission, South Dakota, individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

Walter Willard Wright, age 36, and Micole Lynn Menard, age 36, were indicted on August 13, 2018. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 31, 2018, and they both pled not guilty to the Indictment.

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

The Indictment alleges that on between October 1, 2016, and January 31, 2017, Wright and Menard knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in South Dakota. The Indictment further alleges that on January 18, 2017, Wright and Menard, being unlawful users of and addicted to a controlled substance, did knowingly possess multiple firearms. The charges are merely accusations and Wright and Menard 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. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s 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 the local community 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 and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.

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