California Man Facing Charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Meth in South Dakota

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a San Jose, California, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Michael George Sequeira, age 35, was indicted on December 17, 2019.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on March 2, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

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

Beginning on an unknown date and continuing until on or about the date of this Indictment, in the District of South Dakota and elsewhere, Michael George Sequeira, did knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate, and agree together, with others known and unknown, to knowingly and intentionally distribute a mixture and substance containing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846.

The charge is merely an accusation and Sequeira is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer D. Mammenga is prosecuting the case.   

Sequeira was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.