Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that William Stevenson, age 56, of Phoenix, Arizona, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance as a result of a federal jury trial in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on April 14, 2022.
The Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance charge carries a maximum penalty of life in custody and/or a $10 million fine, life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The Obstruction of Justice by Retaliating Against a Witness, Victim or Informant charge carries a maximum penalty of twenty years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crimes Victims Fund.
Stevenson was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 4, 2022.
Beginning on an unknown date, and continuing until on or about January 2021, Stevenson, along with at least one other person reached an agreement or came to an understanding to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of a substance containing methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota and elsewhere.
During Stevenson’s involvement, he and other co-conspirators brought multiple pounds of methamphetamine into South Dakota for redistribution.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered. The sentencing date has not been scheduled. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.