Rushmore State News

A man from Black Hawk, South Dakota, has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Rapid City area and within the Pine Ridge Reservation. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence on September 2, 2025.

Jackie Corean, age 63, received a sentence of 11 years and three months in federal prison. He will also serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Corean was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024 for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. He pleaded guilty on May 19, 2025.

Authorities said that between January 2022 and February 2024, Corean participated with others in distributing methamphetamine throughout South Dakota, including the Rapid City area and within the Pine Ridge Reservation. The group transported large amounts of methamphetamine from Denver, Colorado, into South Dakota for distribution purposes. According to investigators, Corean allowed his home to be used as a central location for drug distribution and discussed with co-conspirators exchanging firearms for methamphetamine in Colorado.

Before any firearms could be taken to Denver, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Corean’s residence. Officers seized six firearms along with numerous items of drug paraphernalia consistent with drug distribution activities.

The investigation involved several agencies: the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Wyoming State Highway Patrol, and North Metro Denver Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.

Following sentencing, Corean was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.