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Press Release
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that seven South Dakotans have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier for their roles in a large-scale methamphetamine conspiracy.
Justin Robert Christensen (age 31) of Sioux Falls; Nicholas Scott Flier (age 26) of Valley Springs; Paris Bryn Koller (age 26) of Pierre; Brandon Alan Watters (age 25) of Sioux Falls; Kasie Mae Vogt (age 31) of Armour; Amanda Leigh Wieman (age 32) of Sioux Falls; and Tanya Jeanette Andrews (age 44) of Pierre, were indicted for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance by a federal grand jury on May 8, 2019. Christensen was also indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Each defendant was charged for their role in conspiring to distribute a mixture and substance containing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Flier, Koller, Watters, Vogt, Wieman, and Andrews entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and were each sentenced in late 2019 to 120 months in custody, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Christensen pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in September 2019. On February 10, 2020, Christensen was sentenced to 280 months in custody, followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The investigation revealed that Christensen received over ten pounds of methamphetamine in the U.S. Mail that he had ordered from the Dark Web. Christensen distributed the methamphetamine to his co-defendants and others, so they could sell the drugs to their own customers. Christensen utilized various bank accounts and Bitcoin accounts to conceal the nearly $200,000 he amassed from the sale of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer D. Mammenga prosecuted the case.
All defendants have been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.