OCTOBER 2023:
A federal judge has determined what the punishment is for 58 year old Daren Lee Basche of Brandon who was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. This was the last sentencing of the four defendants involved in this indictment, and it took place on October 10, 2023.
Basche was sentenced to 9 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release. Previously, Jevon McLeod, 33, of Sisseton, South Dakota, was sentenced on March 14, 2023, to 40 years in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release. Tiarah Bissonette, 26, of Sisseton, South Dakota, was sentenced on March 14, 2023, to 4 years and 9 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release. Trey Petrich, 24, of Watertown, South Dakota, was sentenced on August 28, 2023 to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release. Additionally, they were each ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
All four defendants were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl by a federal grand jury in July of 2022. Basche pleaded guilty on June 12, 2023, McLeod pleaded guilty on December 5, 2022, Bissonette pleaded guilty on November 16, 2023, and Petrich pleaded guilty on May 3, 2023.
During this conspiracy, McLeod would pick up pills containing fentanyl from co-conspirators in other states and transport it back to South Dakota to be distributed. Basche, Bissonette and Petrich were sub-distributors for McLeod. The group was responsible for distributing thousands of pills containing fentanyl in Northeast South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigations, the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office, the Codington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
MARCH 2023:
A federal judge has decided the punishment for a Dumont, Minnesota, man and a Sisseton, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Jevon Joseph Mcleod, a/k/a “Buddy Traffick”, 32, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Tiarah Grace Bissonette, 25, was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. They were also both ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Court information says McLeod was the leader of a conspiracy in South Dakota to obtain pills containing fentanyl from out of state and distribute them in the Northeastern area of the state. McLeod recruited Bissonette and others to assist him in selling thousands of pills during the conspiracy. Bissonette obtained pills weighing a total of over 40 grams from McLeod and sold them to others.
The other two defendants are scheduled for trial on June 6, 2023.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Interior – Bureau of Indian Affairs, South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation, and the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
JULY 2022:
A federal grand jury has indicted four South Dakota residents for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Jevon McLeod, a/k/a “Buddy Traffick”, age 32, and Tiarah Grace Bissonette, age 24, both of Sisseton, South Dakota, and Daren Lee Basche, age 57, and Trey Byron Petrich, age 22, both of Watertown, South Dakota, have all pled not guilty.
Beginning on a date unknown and continuing until on or about July 11, 2022, in the District of South Dakota, Jevon Joseph Mcleod, Daren Lee Basche, Tiarah Grace Bissonette, and Trey Byron Petrich did intentionally conspire together, with others known and unknown, to intentionally distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. The defendants conspired to distribute pills containing fentanyl in the northeastern part of South Dakota.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 40 years in custody and/or a $5 million fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Following their initial appearances, McLeod, Basche, and Bissonette were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, and Petrich was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
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