Rapid City Men Plead Guilty To Controlled Substance Charge

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Kenneth Morales-Scott, Jr., and Cayleb Louis Young, both age 35, of Rapid City, South Dakota appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on June 4, 2013 and pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 5 years of custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; 2 years of supervised release; and a $100 Special Assessment. Restitution may also be ordered.

The conviction arose from an incident that occurred in November 2012. Morales-Scott and Young traveled from Rapid City to California where Morales-Scott was provided over 10 pounds of marijuana to deliver to an individual in Wisconsin. Young became aware of the nature of the trip, and agreed to assist in delivery of the marijuana in exchange for being reimbursed. South Dakota Highway Patrol performed a traffic stop on a vehicle on Interstate 90 that was driven by Morales-Scott with Young as a passenger. During a subsequent vehicle search, troopers found marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle.

The investigation was conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date of August 19, 2013 was set for both Morales-Scott and Young. Both men were released pending sentencing.