Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced on Drug Charges

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Sioux Falls woman charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance was sentenced on December 6, 2010, by Chief US District Judge Karen E. Schreier. Azizia Peterson, age 32, was sentenced to 120 months in custody to be followed by five years of supervised release.

Peterson was indicted for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance by a federal grand jury on March 3, 2010, along with her husband Milton Peterson. The two distributed crack cocaine in and around the areas of Sioux Falls and Mitchell. The charges came about when law enforcement discovered nearly a pound of crack cocaine and cocaine powder at their rural Montrose residence in early February 2010. Milton Peterson pled guilty and was sentenced in September. A jury found Azizia Peterson guilty of the charge following her trial in October 2010.

This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the McCook County Sheriff’s Office, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant US Attorneys Jeffrey C. Clapper and John Haak prosecuted the case.

Peterson was immediately turned over to the custody of the US Marshal.

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