Sioux Empire Today

A Rapid City man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota. The sentencing took place on August 15, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.

Michael Cole, also known as “Texas,” age 34, received concurrent sentences of 20 years and 10 years in federal prison for each count, along with five years of supervised release for each and a $100 special assessment per count to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Cole was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024 and pleaded guilty on March 31, 2025. Authorities said that between January and February 2024, Cole conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout the Rapid City area. He reportedly traveled to Colorado to purchase large quantities of both drugs before transporting them back to South Dakota for distribution. At the time of this offense, Cole was already on federal supervised release for a prior drug conspiracy conviction.

“This investigation resulted in the seizure of more than seven pounds of methamphetamine and over 2,000 counterfeit M/30 fentanyl pills destined for distribution in the Rapid City area,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Thanks to the dogged work of the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team and this resulting federal prosecution, Cole will be spending the next two decades of his life in prison.”

The case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, which includes members from several agencies: South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and National Guard Counter Drug Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.

Cole was immediately remanded into custody following sentencing.