Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on February 14, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken.

Megan Lawrence, age 42, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Lawrence was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury on February 19, 2021.  She pleaded guilty on October 22, 2021.  Lawrence was involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing between 1.5 and 5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Rapid City area.  Methamphetamine was brought to South Dakota from California by Lawrence's co-conspirators, Larre Hayes and Shelby Tripp Lien.  Lawrence helped further distribute the methamphetamine upon its arrival.  Lawrence also received packages in the mail containing methamphetamine, coordinated by Hayes.  Hayes is awaiting sentencing and Lien is pending trial.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.  

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

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