Four People Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl in Northeastern South Dakota

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that four South Dakota residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Jevon McLeod, a/k/a “Buddy Traffick”, age 32, and Tiarah Grace Bissonette, age 24, both of Sisseton, South Dakota, and Daren Lee Basche, age 57, and Trey Byron Petrich, age 22, both of Watertown, South Dakota, were indicted on July 11, 2022.  They all appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Moreno on July 14, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 40 years in custody and/or a $5 million fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

Beginning on a date unknown and continuing until on or about July 11, 2022, in the District of South Dakota, Jevon Joseph Mcleod, Daren Lee Basche, Tiarah Grace Bissonette, and Trey Byron Petrich did knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate, and agree together, with others known and unknown to the grand jury, to knowingly and intentionally distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.  The defendants conspired to distribute pills containing fentanyl in the northeastern part of South Dakota.

The charge is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges is prosecuting the case.   

Following their initial appearances, McLeod, Basche, and Bissonette were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, and Petrich was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.