NOVEMBER 2023:
A federal U.S. District Court judge has handed out the punishment for two women from North Dakota convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance after they were arrested at a gas station in Oacoma, South Dakota last year.
31 year old Kerstyn Lanz of West Fargo was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
40 year old Monica Yellow Bird of Raleigh was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
The convictions stemmed from a drug conspiracy in December of 2022 wherein Lanz and Yellow Bird knowingly and intentionally agreed with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Lanz, Yellow Bird, and their two co-defendants were arrested while at a gas station in Oacoma. Their vehicles were searched and approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine was found in vacuum sealed bags wrapped as Christmas presents. The defendants were transporting the methamphetamine from a source in Las Vegas, Nevada, to North Dakota for further distribution. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance.
Co-defendant Abdul Vann was previously sentenced to 13 years in prison, and co-defendant Samuel Vann was previously sentenced to one year in prison.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Northern Plains Safe Trains Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Lanz and Yellow Bird were allowed to self-report Monday of next week (Nov. 27, 2023).
OCTOBER 2023:
A federal U.S. District Court, has decided on the punishment for a 48 year old man from Mandan, North Dakota, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Abdul Vann was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, seven years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Abdul’s son, 22 year old Samuel Vann was sentenced to time served of seven months of custody, one year of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
The convictions stemmed from a drug conspiracy in December 2022 wherein Abdul Vann knowingly and intentionally agreed with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Abdul and Samuel Vann, along with two co-defendants were arrested while at a gas station in Oacoma. Their vehicles were searched and approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine was found in vacuum sealed bags wrapped as Christmas presents. Abdul and the co-defendants were transporting the methamphetamine from a source in Las Vegas, Nevada, to North Dakota for further distribution. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Northern Plains Safe Trains Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case. The two remaining co-defendants will be sentenced later this month (Oct. 2023).
Abdul Vann was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
MARCH 2023:
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted three individuals from North Dakota and an individual from Washington, DC, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Abdul Vann, age 47, from Mandan, ND; Samuel Vann, age 21, from Washington, DC; Monica Yellow Bird, age 40, from Fort Yates, ND; and Kerstyn Lanz, age 30, from West Fargo, ND, pleaded not guilty.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $20,000,000 fine, lifetime of supervised release, and up to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that beginning at an unknown time and continuing until February 14, 2023, in Lyman County, all four defendants knowingly and intentionally distributed and possessed with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, which is a Schedule II controlled substance.
The investigation is being conducted by the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Drug Enforcement, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
All four Defendants were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for May 9, 2023.
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