United States of America v. Cruz Mario Lara Larios

Rapid City, South Dakota criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine



Rapid City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.



Cruz Mario Lara Larios, age 38, was indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.



Lara Larios was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. He pleaded guilty on November 22, 2024.



On March 17, 2024, Lara Larios was the driver and sole occupant of a vehicle on Interstate 90 near Spearfish, South Dakota. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Lara Larios' vehicle for speeding. During the traffic stop officers located nearly 24 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle, which Lara Larios had been transporting from Washington to South Dakota with the intention of distributing some or all of the methamphetamine.



This case was investigated by the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET). UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, the Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.



Lara Larios was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the sentencing.