Colorado Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of Firearm

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Colorado man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

James Andrew Boswell, age 29, was indicted on June 14, 2016.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on July 20, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $1,000,000 fine, 3 years and up to life of supervised release, $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and the potential forfeiture of two firearms and U.S. currency seized as part of the investigation.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between April 1, 2016, and June 14, 2016, Boswell conspired and agreed with other persons to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota.  The Indictment also alleges that on or about May 9, 2016, at Lower Brule, South Dakota, Boswell possessed a firearm, even though he was prohibited from doing so because he was a fugitive from justice and an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance.    

The charges are merely an accusation and Boswell is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Lower Brule Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan is prosecuting the case.   

Boswell was released pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.