Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man who pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, was sentenced on February 12, 2021, by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Viken.

Trent Michelson, age 27, was sentenced to a total of 41 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

From approximately March 2019 to September 2019, Michelson brought heroin to South Dakota from Colorado, or by others through arrangements made with him. Michelson then dispersed the heroin to others for use or distribution.

This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), Drug Enforcement Agency, 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, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.

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