Rapid City Man Indicted For Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Arnold Barton Johnston, age 54, was indicted on March 18, 2014.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on March 24, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is at least 5 years and not more than 40 years in custody and/or a $5,000,000 fine, 4 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

On March 8, 2014, Johnston possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

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

The investigation is being conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and Meade County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted L. McBride is prosecuting the case.   

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