Three People from Rapid City Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that two Rapid City, South Dakota, men and a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.

Joshua Kudlock, age 32, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Kudlock was sentenced on December 16, 2019.

David Brandon Pauly, age 31, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Pauly was sentenced on October 9, 2019.

Serena Renea Rodriguez, age 33, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Rodriguez was sentenced on October 21, 2019.

Kudlock, Pauly, and Rodriguez were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 8, 2019.  Kudlock pled guilty on September 23, 2019, Pauly pled guilty on July 16, 2019, and Rodriguez pled guilty on July 23, 2019.

The conviction stemmed from incidents beginning on an unknown date and continuing until approximately February 5, 2019, when Kudlock, along Pauly and Rodriguez came to an understanding to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota.

At the time they joined in the agreement to distribute methamphetamine, they knew the purpose of the agreement or understanding.

On January 3, 2019, a vehicle they were all riding in for the purpose of making a drug run was stopped in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and searched by law enforcement.  Inside the vehicle, officers located approximately five pounds of methamphetamine. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer D. Mammenga prosecuted the case.

Kudlock, Pauly, and Rodriguez were immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.