Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to over 11 Years for Meth Distribution Conspiracy

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine was sentenced on June 18, 2019, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.

Harold Brewer, Jr., age 29, was sentenced to 140 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Brewer was indicted for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm by a federal grand jury on November 16, 2016.  He pled guilty on December 21, 2018.

Brewer worked with co-conspirators in selling and distributing methamphetamine in Rapid City and on the Pine Ridge Reservation.  Additional co-conspirators are pending trials in Rapid City.

Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity.  Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers.  It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Badlands Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.

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