Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on September 13, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.

Daniel Michael Thaler, age 37, was sentenced to 158 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Thaler was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 12, 2021.  He pled guilty on June 21, 2021.

The conviction stemmed from incidents beginning at an unknown date and continuing until on or about January 12, 2021, when Thaler knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, agreed with others to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, which is a Schedule II controlled substance.

At the time Thaler voluntarily joined in the agreement, he knew the purpose of said agreement.  Thaler obtained over 500 grams of methamphetamine from a co-conspirator and redistributed it to drug customers in South Dakota. 

This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls, Area Drug Task Force and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

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