Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A Rapid City man has been sentenced to 17 years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in and around the Rapid City area. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell and handed down by District Judge Karen E. Schreier on July 25, 2025.
Andre Gibson, age 46, will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Gibson was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024 and pleaded guilty on May 9, 2025.
According to court documents, Gibson received several packages containing methamphetamine through the United States Mail Service from neighboring states. He collaborated with others both inside and outside South Dakota to sell the drugs locally. Authorities determined that between 1.5 and 5 kilograms (approximately 3 to 11 pounds) of methamphetamine were distributed in the Rapid City area as part of this operation.
“More and more often, criminals are shipping narcotics through the U.S. mail system,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Fortunately, our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are highly skilled at intercepting these packages and tracking down suspects, thereby allowing the U.S. Attorney’s Office to secure federal convictions and pursue significant prison sentences, just as we did against Andre Gibson.”
The investigation involved multiple agencies: the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), South Dakota Highway Patrol, Rapid City Police Department, and Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
Gibson was remanded immediately into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
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