Lower Brule Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine Charges and Assault on a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, woman charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on March 8, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Samantha Dolezal, age 25, was sentenced to 54 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $1,000 on the Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine felony, and 18 months custody on the Assaulting a Federal Officer felony, to run concurrent with the 54 month sentence.  Dolezal was also ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims fund in the amount of $200.

The methamphetamine conviction is a result of Dolezal receiving distributable quantitates of methamphetamine and distributing it in South Dakota beginning in January of 2015.  It was reasonably foreseeable to Dolzeal that between 200-350 grams of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of the conspiracy. This methamphetamine was distributed by Dolzeal on the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Indian reservations. 

Dolezal’s resisting and assaulting a federal officer conviction comes from an incident on August 21, 2016, when a BIA officer attempted to pull over a stolen vehicle that was being driven by Dolezal.  She did not stop and a high speed chase ensued with speeds in excess of 100 mph.  Dolezal stopped the vehicle where a foot pursuit began.  Dolezal ran into a stranger's home and refused to answer the door, but the officer was able to open the door slightly by putting his arm through the door to deploy his OC spray.  While the officer’s arm was in the door opening, Dolezal slammed the door on the officer’s arm causing pain.  After another foot pursuit began, the officer caught up with Dolezal and was able to arrest her.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys SaraBeth Donovan and Meghan Dilges prosecuted the cases.

Dolezal was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.