Pierre Woman Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Pierre, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on January 24, 2023.

Stephanie Martinez, age 38, was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Stephanie Martinez was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in September of 2021. She pleaded guilty on July 11, 2022.

Martinez was involved in a conspiracy with several others to distribute methamphetamine in and around central South Dakota. Martinez received distributable quantities of methamphetamine from others in California. The methamphetamine was further distributed by Martinez and those working for her. In total 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of the conspiracy.

This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.

Martinez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.