Wakpala Man Pleads Guilty To Drug Charge

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Dustin Swimmer, age 26, of Wakpala, appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on January 3, 2013, and pled guilty to a superseding information that charged him with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years' imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, or both, and a period of supervised release of 3 years.

The conviction stems from Swimmer knowingly and intentionally conspiring to distribute and possess a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in 2011.

The investigation was conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for May 13, 2013. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.