DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
District of South Dakota

For Immediate Release

Monday, August 2, 2021
Dennis R. Holmes
, United States Attorney
Contact: Ace Crawford

Minnesota Man Sentenced to 15 ½ Years for Meth Trafficking Conspiracy

Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, man who pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on July 28, 2021, by U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier.

Michael Sherard, age 34, was sentenced to 15 1/2 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Michael Sherard was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury on August 20, 2020. He pleaded guilty on April 5, 2021.

During his involvement in the conspiracy the defendant travelled to Nebraska to obtain methamphetamine, which he then transported to South Dakota. Upon arrival in the Rapid City area, the defendant then dispersed methamphetamine to others for use and further distribution.

This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), Drug Enforcement Agency, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota National Guard, and the
South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.

Sherard was immediately returned to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

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St. Paul Field Division