Tea Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Meth Conspiracy

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Tea, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 4, 2024.

Nicholas Ganske, 44, was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by five  years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Ganske was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. He pleaded guilty on November 29, 2023.

Ganske, along with his co-conspirators, was responsible for distributing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota. Ganske would meet a co-conspirator to purchase drugs, which both knew Ganske would then sell to others in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area.

The investigation is being led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from other law enforcement agencies such as: FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Brookings Police Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Rock County (MN) Sheriff’s Office, Worthington (MN) Police Department, and the Mitchell Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen.

Ganske was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.