Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Maintaining Drug House

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises was sentenced on May 29, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Jason Leo Fischer, age 35, was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison, 2 years of supervised release, $1,000 fine, forfeiture of a rifle, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Fischer was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 22, 2017.  He pleaded guilty on March 5, 2019.

Between June of 2016 and November of 2017, Fischer used and maintained his residence in Ziebach County for the use and distribution of methamphetamine and marijuana.  He was aware that numerous individuals were using and distributing methamphetamine and marijuana on the premises and he failed to stop them.  When Fischer was arrested, law enforcement located and seized a .22 caliber rifle from the doorway of Fischer’s bedroom, and confiscated numerous items of drug paraphernalia testing positive for methamphetamine and/or marijuana from within the residence. 

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 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.

This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Narcotics Division and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.

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