Ft. Thompson Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Ft. Thompson, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on February 27, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Merle Seeking Land, age 38, was sentenced to 180 months in custody, followed by 10 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Seeking Land was initially indicted by a federal grand jury on July 21, 2015, and pled guilty on November 28, 2016.

Beginning in November 2014, and continuing through July 21, 2015, Seeking Land knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, in South Dakota. Seeking Land admitted to receiving distributable quantities of methamphetamine and distributing it to others within South Dakota. The individuals who provided Seeking Land with methamphetamine knew that he intended to engage in further distribution. Seeking Land agreed that his conduct involved between 1.5 kilograms and 5 kilograms of methamphetamine. Because of Seeking Land’s two prior methamphetamine distribution convictions, one in 2005 and one in 2011, he was considered a career offender and his sentence was increased.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.

Seeking Land was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.