Alison J. Ramsdell, the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota, has announced that several local agencies have been recognized with a Regional Award from the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). The award ceremony took place in Sioux Falls on March 12, 2025, acknowledging significant collaborative efforts in disrupting a major drug trafficking organization. This organization was responsible for smuggling approximately 140 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico and Arizona into South Dakota and Louisiana.
The Midwest HIDTA Outstanding Prosecution Award was presented to agents from various federal and local agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and Moody County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges was also honored for securing federal convictions against 19 individuals involved in this large-scale conspiracy.
The investigation lasted nearly two years and revealed Christopher Daniels as the leader of the South Dakota cell within this multi-state operation. Methamphetamine was sourced by Sean Gross in Arizona from Rusty Driscoll who had direct connections to Mexico. Jessica Louviere in Louisiana received multiple shipments directed by Gross and Driscoll. Daniels distributed at least 120 pounds of methamphetamine in South Dakota alone.
Successful prosecutions led to significant sentences: Rusty Driscoll received 45 years, Christopher Daniels got 30 years, Sean Gross over 26 years, and Jessica Louviere was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Ramsdell stated: “We are extremely fortunate to have local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies who readily and regularly collaborate to intercept drugs being trafficked into our communities.” She emphasized the importance of such collaborations between law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors to dismantle drug trafficking organizations.
The HIDTA program was established by Congress through the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to support law enforcement agencies in critical drug-trafficking regions across the United States. Managed by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, there are currently 33 HIDTAs across all states including Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington D.C., with more than 1,500 DEA special agents dedicated to these efforts.
In South Dakota specifically, counties participating in Midwest HIDTA include Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Clay, Codington, Custer, Lawrence, Lincoln, Meade Minnehaha Pennington Union Yankton.