United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Chamberlain, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury.
Rodney Hickey, age 48, was indicted on July 17, 2013, for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Drug User in Possession of Firearm. Hickey appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on Aug. 28, 2013, and pled not guilty to the Superseding Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, an additional 2 years of supervised release upon revocation, and a mandatory $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges are merely accusations, and Hickey is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The Superseding Indictment alleges that on or about Jan. 12, 2013, Hickey knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance. It also alleges that he knowingly possessed firearms while being a drug user.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich is prosecuting the case.
Hickey was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until an electronic device can be in place and his warrant has been satisfied. A trial date has been set for Oct. 22, 2013.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
