A man who admitted to coordinating a major South Dakota drug ring has been sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison.
Noel Rivera of Obregon, Mexico transported large amounts of methamphetamine from Arizona and other states to South Dakota, according to the South Dakota District of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He also helped coordinate the storage and distribution of the drugs once they arrived in South Dakota.
Police arrested Rivera in August of 2021 after a series of drug busts in the Rapid City area. Prosecutors said those busts resulted in the seizure of over 70 pounds of methamphetamine along with several pounds of heroin, cocaine, and thousands of fentanyl pills. Authorities also seized $144,000 and 13 firearms.
Rivera pleaded guilty to a felony drug distribution charge last April. One co-conspirator also pleaded guilty to the same charge, while another is awaiting trial.