A Pine Ridge man has been sentenced to a decade in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. U.S. Circuit Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence to Benny Benson, 22, on January 3, 2025. The sentence includes ten years of imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Benson was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023 and pleaded guilty on October 16, 2024. His conviction is linked to his participation in a large-scale drug distribution operation involving fentanyl and cocaine on the Pine Ridge Reservation. During this period, Benson distributed over 900 grams of fentanyl and about 210 grams of cocaine while serving as a supervisor within the conspiracy. He also possessed a firearm during his involvement.
The investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Following his sentencing, Benson was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.