A Pine Ridge, South Dakota man has been sentenced to a decade in federal prison for his role in a drug distribution conspiracy. U.S. Circuit Judge Karen E. Schreier delivered the sentence to Benny Benson, 22, on January 3, 2025. The charges included conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

The court's decision includes ten years of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment fee directed to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Benson was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023 and entered a guilty plea on October 16, 2024. His conviction is linked to an extensive operation distributing fentanyl and cocaine within the Pine Ridge Reservation.

During the conspiracy, Benson distributed over 900 grams of fentanyl and around 210 grams of cocaine while serving as a supervisor and possessing a firearm during these activities.

The investigation involved collaboration between the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen led the prosecution against Benson.

Following his sentencing, Benson was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.