Courtney Richmond, a 49-year-old Sioux Falls resident, was sentenced on July 23 to 15 years and eight months in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Ron Parsons.
Richmond will also serve five years of supervised release and must pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024 and found guilty following a four-day jury trial in Sioux Falls federal district court. The verdict was returned on April 10, 2026.
Investigations into Richmond began in late 2022 by Homeland Security Investigations, with the Drug Enforcement Administration joining in fall 2023. Authorities discovered that Richmond supplied methamphetamine to at least one other individual who then resold it. Investigators reviewed text messages and Facebook communications confirming their involvement in drug trafficking. Warrants were obtained for Richmond’s person, residences, and vehicles.
On December 14, 2023, law enforcement stopped Richmond while he was driving a vehicle marked with his company’s BBQ food truck logo. A search revealed approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded pistol inside the vehicle. A subsequent search of his home uncovered an additional 216 grams of methamphetamine and another loaded firearm. Due to four prior felony convictions from Minnesota, Richmond is prohibited from possessing firearms. In total, about 300 grams of methamphetamine were seized during the investigation.
The case involved cooperation among the Drug Enforcement Administration, Brookings Police Department, and Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Following sentencing, Richmond was immediately remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota serves as the chief federal law enforcement office for its district; it covers all federal criminal prosecutions and civil cases within South Dakota’s jurisdiction while supporting initiatives aimed at improving public safety across communities, according to the official website.