Two Sioux Falls Men Plead Guilty To Controlled Substance Charges

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Alexis Salgado, age 40, and James Menard, age 30, both of Sioux Falls, South Dakota appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on April 9, 2013 and pled guilty to the Indictment that charged them with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, or both; 3 years of supervised release and an additional 2 years of supervised release upon revocation. Restitution and a $100 special assessment may also be ordered.

The charge stems from an incident wherein a South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper stopped to provide assistance to a vehicle sitting along the side of Highway 44 with its hood up. There was smoke coming from under the hood and the vehicle’s hazard lights were on. There were three men with the vehicle. During the Trooper’s contact with the three men, a pack of Newport cigarettes stuffed with a plastic bag with 12.8 grams of methamphetamine inside was found near the air intake by the front left fender of the vehicle. Trace amounts of marijuana were located inside the head band of a baseball cap located in the back seat. A glass pipe was also found stuffed in between the rear seat cushions. Urine samples were obtained from Salgado and Menard who tested positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine and marijuana.

The investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich is prosecuting the case.

Both Salgado and Menard were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending sentencing. Salgado sentencing has been set for June 25, 2013. Menard sentencing has not been set.