Chamberlain Man Indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

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

Philip Battese, a/k/a Philip Anthony Battese, Jr., age 37, was indicted on April 9, 2019.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 3, 2019, and 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.  Restitution may also be ordered. 

The Indictment alleges that beginning no later than on or about January 1, 2016, and continuing to April 9, 2019, in South Dakota, Battese knowingly and intentionally, combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

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

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

Battese was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.