Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

RAPID CITY, S.D. — U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Sam Boyd, 35, of Rapid City of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of ammunition, following a four-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City. The verdict was returned on Nov. 2.

The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in custody and a maximum penalty of life in custody and a $10 million fine, five years up to life of supervised release and a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Boyd was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2022.

In fall 2020, Boyd began obtaining methamphetamine from a co-conspirator in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The methamphetamine was either mailed or transported to western South Dakota on multiple occasions. Boyd then distributed the methamphetamine to others for use and to further sell. Throughout the conspiracy, Boyd routinely possessed multiple firearms and ammunition, despite being legally prohibited from doing so due to a prior felony conviction.

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

A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

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