Brenda Fernandez, a 52-year-old woman from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was sentenced on July 6 to four years and one month in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte handed down the sentence, which also includes three years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Fernandez was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025 and pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026. The conviction is related to a traffic stop that occurred on September 1, 2024, within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. During the stop, officers found Fernandez in possession of 34 grams of pure methamphetamine along with a scale, baggies, and a drug ledger. Authorities said she intended to distribute the methamphetamine within the reservation.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at countering illegal immigration and eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations through resources provided by Department of Justice programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Dewey County Sheriff’s Office, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, FBI, and DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Fernandez was immediately remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota is responsible for enforcing federal laws across its district as well as handling both criminal prosecutions and civil cases; it serves as chief federal law enforcement office for South Dakota while supporting initiatives that improve public safety and quality of life throughout its jurisdiction, according to the official website.