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Press Release

Sioux Falls Man Sentenced In Synthetic Drug And Money Laundering Case

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of conspiracy to distribute synthetic marijuana and engaging in a banking transaction involving drug money was sentenced on March 18, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.

Corey Brandon Morrison, age 25, was sentenced to 34 months in custody, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
         
Morrison was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 10, 2012, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Analogue and Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Property Derived From Specified Unlawful Activity.  He pled guilty to both offenses on May 17, 2013.
         
Beginning around September 2011, two or more persons formed an agreement to distribute an illegal drug to customers from one or more Roll With It store locations in Sioux Falls.  The illegal product, commonly referred to as spice or K2, is made by treating plant material with certain chemicals that are controlled substance analogues.  Under federal law, a controlled substance analogue has a chemical structure that is similar to certain controlled substances and has an effect on the central nervous system which is intended to be similar to those controlled substances.  In situations where controlled substance analogues are intended for human consumption, they are treated as controlled substances.

During Morrison’s involvement, he sold controlled substance analogues to the Roll With It stores, where the analogues were in turn sold to customers to get high. 
         
On or about September 16, 2011, Morrison deposited $12,500 cash into his personal bank account, which were proceeds from the illegal distribution of controlled substances.
         
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.  Senior Litigation Counsel John E. Haak and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer D. Mammenga prosecuted the case.
         
Morrison was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


Updated June 22, 2015