Sioux Empire Today

A man from Rapid City, South Dakota, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier delivered the sentence to Cruz Mario Lara Larios, aged 38, on February 14, 2025. In addition to his prison term, Lara Larios will undergo five years of supervised release and pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Lara Larios was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024 and entered a guilty plea on November 22, 2024. The charges stem from an incident on March 17, 2024, when he was stopped for speeding on Interstate 90 near Spearfish, South Dakota. Law enforcement discovered nearly 24 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in his vehicle during the traffic stop. It was determined that Lara Larios was transporting the drugs from Washington to South Dakota with plans to distribute them.

The investigation was carried out by the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET). UNET includes members from several agencies: Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.

Following his sentencing, Lara Larios was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.