St. Francis Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on December 10, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Steven William Emery, age 48, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, forfeiture of a firearm, ammunition, and firearm accessories, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Emery was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 11, 2018.  He pled guilty on August 13, 2019.

Beginning in June 2016 and continuing to May 2018, Emery knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota, in and around the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Emery admitted that over 50 grams of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of the conspiracy.   During a vehicle and residence search, several drug paraphernalia items were found, in addition to a loaded firearm, ammunition and firearm accessories.

Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity.  Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers.  It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case.

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