Mission Man Sentenced on Methamphetamine Charges

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on December 11, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Richard William Neiss, age 46, was sentenced to 46 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, forfeiture of $1,141.76 and ammunition seized by law enforcement on November 24, 2016, and a special assessment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Neiss was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 15, 2017, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  Neiss pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) on September 26, 2017.

Neiss admitted to possessing methamphetamine on three separate occasions, with the intent to further distribute it:  1) on July 22, 2014, Neiss was caught with 4 grams of methamphetamine at the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Casino; 2) on November 24, 2016, Neiss was stopped by Rosebud Sioux Tribal Police in Mission, and inside his vehicle was found 2.5 grams of methamphetamine, three digital scales, a large quantity of plastic baggies, $1,147.76 in U.S. currency, and a box of shotgun shells; and 3) on April 8, 2017, in Mission, Niess was arrested with 22.17 grams of methamphetamine, and a pipe and small plastic bowl with methamphetamine residue.

Further, Neiss admitted to distributing 11.1 grams of methamphetamine to another individual in Eagle Butte on February 8, 2017, for $1,050.00.

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

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