United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on July 8, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
James Menard, age 30, was sentenced to 28 months of imprisonment; a $1,000 fine; 3 years of supervised release; and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Menard was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 18, 2012. He pled guilty to the above charge on April 9, 2013.
The charge stems from an incident wherein a South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper came upon a vehicle with its hood up sitting on the side of Highway 44. There was smoke coming from under the hood and the vehicle’s hazard lights were on. The trooper stopped to provide assistance and encountered three men with the vehicle. During the trooper’s contact with the three men, a cigarette box stuffed with a plastic bag containing 12.8 grams of methamphetamine was found in the vehicle. Additionally, trace amounts of marijuana were located inside the head band of a baseball cap located in the back seat, and a glass pipe was also found stuffed in between the rear seat cushions. A urine sample was obtained from Menard who tested positive for use of methamphetamine.
The investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Menard was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
