Pierre Man Sentenced For Conspiracy To Distribute A Controlled Substance Near A School

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Near a School was sentenced on August 28, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Juan Howell, age 29, was sentenced to 33 months in custody, 4 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
         
Howell was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Near a School and Distribution of a Controlled Substance Near a School by a federal grand jury on December 10, 2013. He pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Near a School on May 12, 2014.
         
The conviction arose from an incident that occurred on January 1, 2012, when Howell knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated and agreed with others known and unknown to distribute marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance, within 1,000 feet of an elementary school.
         
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.        

Howell was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.