Rushmore State News

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Scott Reiners, a resident of Pierre, South Dakota, has been sentenced to 12 years and four months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte delivered the sentence on July 14, 2025. Reiners was convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

In addition to his prison term, Reiners will serve five years of supervised release and must pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund along with a $1,000 fine.

Reiners' indictment occurred in July 2024, and he pleaded guilty on April 3, 2025. His conviction relates to a drug conspiracy between September 2022 and April 2023 involving methamphetamine distribution in central South Dakota, including areas within the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservations. During this period, Reiners distributed between five and fifteen kilograms of methamphetamine.

The investigation also linked Reiners to a traffic stop where law enforcement seized 254 grams of nearly pure methamphetamine and a handgun. Due to three prior felony convictions, Reiners is barred from possessing firearms.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program focuses on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating results.

The investigation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.

Following sentencing, Reiners was placed in custody under the U.S. Marshals Service.