Washington Man Sentenced for His Role in South Dakota Fentanyl Conspiracy

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Spokane, Washington, man convicted of Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute. The sentencing took place on January 29, 2024.

Jason James Brickner, 44, was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Jason Brickner and Sonny Evenson were indicted for Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. Brickner pleaded guilty on October 4, 2024. His co-conspirator, Sonny Evenson, 39, also of Spokane, Washington, pleaded guilty to the same charge on December 11, 2023, and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 26, 2024.

On June 13, 2022, Brickner was driving a vehicle in which Evenson was a passenger, when the men were pulled over for a traffic violation on I-90 in South Dakota by a South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper. Ultimately, the vehicle and Brickner were searched and the Trooper located more than 40 grams of fentanyl.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case.

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