June 24, 2025:
Two individuals have been indicted on charges related to drug overdose deaths of two inmates this year in the South Dakota Penitentiary facilities in Sioux Falls.
21 year old inmate Manarion Timothy Douglas Fuse is charged with one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, synthetic cannabinoids, that resulted in the death of inmate Anthony Richards on Feb. 6, 2025; and one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, synthetic cannabinoids. Fuse is accused of providing the drug to Richards and faces a maximum of 70 years in prison.
49 year old Melibu Lynn Ross of Sioux Falls is charged with distribution of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, resulting in the death of inmate Jason Garreau on May 15, 2025. Ross is alleged to have brought the drug into the prison when she visited Garreau on May 14. She faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Both defendants were indicted last week by a Minnehaha County Grand Jury.
The cases were investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the South Dakota Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General. The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the cases.
The defendants are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.
Attorney General Marty Jackley says the investigation continues into the suspected drug overdose deaths of two other inmates that also occurred this year.
June 4, 2025:
State prison employees are getting the credit for stopping an attempt to bring contraband into one of the South Dakota State Men’s Penitentiary facilities in Sioux Falls.
Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko says staff noticed unusual behavior during what would have been a routine supply delivery to the Penitentiary last week (May 29, 2025). She said staff’s attention to detail prevented contraband from being delivered to inmates, which, in turn, could have led to security and safety issues for offenders or for their fellow employees.
Wasko says staff diligently carried out the lessons and processes learned during a recent training, which prevented the contraband from being delivered. She says because this is an ongoing investigation involving the DOC Inspector General’s Office and the Attorney General’s Division of Criminal Investigation, no other information can be released at this time.
Last week, the DOC released information saying they had busted a drug smuggling ring connected to three overdose deaths at South Dakota State Penitentiary facilities in Sioux Falls this year. One death happened in February and two more happened in May. Two of the offender overdoses happened at the Jameson Annex, and one happened at the State Penitentiary.
Anyone who delivers or attempts to deliver unauthorized prescription or nonprescription drugs to an inmate is guilty of a Class 4 felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine or both.
Because of the introduction of drugs into the prison facilities, Wasko said the DOC implemented non-contact visits for offenders in certain facilities and additional policy changes are under review. She said depending on the results of the ongoing investigation, the non-contact visit policy could be expanded to other state prison facilities. The non-contact visits rule is still in effect for those in the Jameson Annex.
May 29, 2025:
The state Department of Corrections has busted a drug smuggling ring connected to three overdose deaths at South Dakota State Penitentiary facilities in Sioux Falls this year (2025).
Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko said one death happened in February and two more happened in May. Two of the offender overdoses happened at the Jameson Annex, and one happened at the State Penitentiary.
Wasko said an internal investigation “identified and stopped methods used to introduce dangerous contraband that had a direct effect on the overdose deaths.” She said the DOC will not tolerate the introduction of drugs that have the potential to harm offenders or prison staff.
Because of the introduction of drugs into the prison facilities, Wasko said the DOC implemented non-contact visits for offenders in certain facilities and additional policy changes are under review. She said depending on the results of the ongoing investigation, the non-contact visit policy could be expanded to other state prison facilities.
The DOC Inspector General’s Office, the state Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postmaster General are cooperating on the investigation. Wasko said if the results warrant prosecution, criminal charges will be filed. Anyone who delivers or attempts to deliver unauthorized prescription or nonprescription drugs to an inmate is guilty of a Class 4 felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine or both.
The methods of drug delivery into the state prison facilities that were identified and stopped were:
- Through the use of counterfeit packages imitating well-known manufacturers with large amounts of drugs sent in through these packages; and
- Through false use of the privileged mail system, such as counterfeit legal mail; and
- Through the actions of visitors, including family members and friends, bringing drugs into the prison during visitation, which contributed to one of the deaths.
Wasko said they are stopping the flow of drugs into the prison facilities and wanted to “ensure that the public is aware of the work that has been done in these cases. We are taking action to keep staff and inmates safe.”
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