U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced Cory Croyle, 37, of Rapid City, South Dakota, to 33 years and four months in federal prison.
Croyle was sentenced on August 29, 2024, after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. In addition to his jail sentence, Croyle will serve five years of supervised release and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Croyle’s case began in September 2023, when a federal grand jury indicted him on two charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Croyle eventually pleaded guilty to the charges on March 20, 2024. Croyle’s conviction stems from his involvement, along with others, in the distribution of large quantities of fentanyl and heroin in the Rapid City area between 2021 and 2023.
During the sentencing, Judge Schreier emphasized the gravity of the conspiracy, stating that it involved one of the largest amounts of drugs she had seen in her entire judicial career. The conspiracy resulted in the unfortunate death of a community member.
Despite being aware of the deadly hazards linked with fentanyl distribution, Croyle continued his illegal activities while on state parole. Judge Schreier also cited Croyle’s important role in the plot and his attempts to obstruct the investigation as justifications for the long sentence.
Croyle’s activities were investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, a local drug task force made up of members from the 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. Anna Lindrooth, an assistant United States attorney, prosecuted the case.
Following the sentencing, Croyle was promptly remanded to the custody of the US Marshals Service.