Utah Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Utah man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Alfredo Chavez Mendoza, a/k/a Alfredo Chavez-Mendoza, a/k/a Maniac, a/k/a Julian, age 26, was indicted on April 13, 2016.  He appeared before United States Magistrate Mark A. Moreno on June 10, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is at least 5 years and up to 40 years in custody and/or a $5,000,000 fine, at least 4 years and up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The indictment alleges that between August 1, 2015, and April 13, 2016, Mendoza knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated and agreed with other persons to knowingly and intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota.

The charges are merely an accusation and Mendoza is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan is prosecuting the case.   

Mendoza was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  Trial has been set for September 2, 2016.