Two from Indiana Charged with Marijuana Trafficking

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that two individuals from Indiana have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana.

Brendan Lee, age 23, from Chesterton, Indiana, and Sarah Worthman, age 23, from Bloomfield, Indiana, were indicted on March 5, 2019.  Both appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 7, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $1,000,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on February 21, 2019, Lee and Worthman were traveling through the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in a U-Haul truck and were stopped by law enforcement.  During the traffic stop, law enforcement found approximately 151 pounds of marijuana in their vehicle.  Lee and Worthman were apprehended at the scene.

The charges are merely accusations and Lee and Worthman are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.   

Lee was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial and Worthman was released on bond conditions.  A trial date has been set for April 30, 2019.