White River Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

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

Stephan George Jones, a/k/a Stephen George Jones, age 45, was indicted on May 17, 2016.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 31, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The penalty upon conviction is 10 years up to life in custody and/or a $10,000,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

It is alleged that between September 1, 2013, and May 17, 2016, Jones conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota.

The charge is merely an accusation and Jones is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

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

Jones was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.