Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Meth Conspiracy

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Scherier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on February 13, 2023.

James Verbrugge, 29, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Verbrugge was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on December 2, 2022.

Verbrugge, along with his co-conspirators, was responsible for distributing 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota.  On April 7, 2022, Verbrugge assisted his co-conspirators in completing a sale of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Verbrugge provided his co-conspirators with methamphetamine so they could complete the sale. The transaction took place in a grocery store parking lot where they exchanged approximately 333.8 grams of methamphetamine, which was at 98% purity, in return for $4,600.

This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen, who also serves as a prosecutor with the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.

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

###