Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A Los Angeles, California man was sentenced on April 6 to more than 23 years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and commit money laundering, according to U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to disrupt large-scale drug trafficking organizations operating across state lines. Such prosecutions are part of broader initiatives aimed at improving public safety and enforcing federal laws, as described by the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota on its official website.
Dejuan Croom, age 43, received a sentence of 23 years and three months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Croom pleaded guilty earlier this year after being indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024.
According to court documents, Croom participated from late 2023 through September 2024 as a manager within a California- and Nevada-based organization that trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl from California into South Dakota. The group used both mail shipments and rental vehicles with hidden compartments to move drugs into Sioux Falls, initially operating out of hotels before shifting distribution operations into short-term rental properties. Prosecutors said Croom drove vehicles loaded with drugs from California to Sioux Falls, helped sell drugs locally, and deposited proceeds into accounts controlled by Quantiae Harris—the group’s leader.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established under Executive Order 14159. The HSTF brings together multiple agencies including FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, USMS, USPIS as well as local law enforcement partners such as SD DCI and SFPD. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota led the prosecution effort.
The U.S. Attorney's Office covers all criminal prosecutions and civil cases within its district boundaries according to its official website. It is recognized as the chief federal law enforcement office for South Dakota according to its official website, with responsibilities dating back over a century according to its official website.
Croom was immediately remanded into custody following sentencing.
