Mother and Son Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Thousands of Fentanyl Pills in Sioux Falls Area and for Money Laundering

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that United States District Judge Karen Schreier has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, SD, and a woman from Luverne, MN, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.

Sean Swiftbird, 27, was sentenced on April 22, 2025, to 11 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Laurie Swiftbird, age 67 and Sean’s mother, was sentenced on August 4, 2025, to two years in federal prison, followed by 3 years  of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The two were indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering in December 2023. Sean Swiftbird pleaded guilty on February 4, 2025. Laurie Swiftbird pleaded guilty on September 6, 2024.

Sean Swiftbird worked with others in Sioux Falls to distribute thousands of fentanyl pills over the course of 2023. Eventually, his mother Laurie became involved and assisted the conspiracy by accepting pill-laden packages at her home and dealing pills to customers. Both Sean and Laurie utilized the electronic payment system Cash App to accept proceeds related to the sale of fentanyl pills and to send those proceeds to their source. Throughout the Swiftbirds’ involvement, the conspiracy trafficked thousands of fentanyl pills in the Sioux Falls area.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigations, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Sean Swiftbird was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Laurie Swiftbird was ordered to turn herself in by January 2026.