Pierre Woman Indicted on Methamphetamine Charges

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Melissa Jean Scull, age 38, was indicted on July 16, 2019.  She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on July 29, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory 5 years up to 40 years in prison and/or a $5,000,000 fine, at least 4 years supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered. 

The Indictment alleges that between February 1, 2019 and July 16, 2019, Scull did knowingly and intentionally, combine, conspire, confederate, and agree with persons known and unknown, to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more methamphetamine. Further, on June 23, 2019, a traffic stop was conducted wherein 236 grams of methamphetamine were located in the vehicle.

The charge is merely an accusation and Scull is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.   

Scull was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.