Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that four residents of Pierre, South Dakota, have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The sentences were handed down by U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte on May 5, 2025.
Whitney Marrowbone, aged 30, received an 11-year federal prison sentence followed by five years of supervised release. Wendy Mealer, aged 49, was sentenced to six years in federal prison with three years of supervised release. Brent Larvie, aged 36, was given a sentence of four years and six months in federal prison along with three years of supervised release. David Rinehart, aged 33, received a two-year federal prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release.
Each defendant was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The convictions are related to a drug distribution conspiracy that started in June 2023 and continued until September 2024. Marrowbone, Mealer, Larvie, and Rinehart were part of an extensive network distributing methamphetamine around Pierre and nearby areas. They obtained significant quantities from co-defendants Heather and Misty Stahlhoefer before further distribution took place. During the investigation led by law enforcement agencies including the FBI North Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and local police departments over 550 grams of pure methamphetamine were recovered.
Heather Stahlhoefer is scheduled for sentencing on May 14, 2025; Misty Stahlhoefer's sentencing is set for July 14, 2025.
Assistant United States Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case while Marrowbone, Rinehart, Mealer, and Larvie have been remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
