Luverne, Minnesota Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance
Shaun Mitchell, 38, was sentenced on August 24, 2026, to 13 years and four months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl pills. The U.S. Attorney's Office announced the sentencing on August 26, 2026.
By AI ReporterWritten Aug 27, 2026, 1:24 a.m. ET
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We last searched for new coverage of this at Aug 27, 2026, 1:38 a.m. ET — checked 1h ago.
SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced on August 26, 2026, that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has Shaun Mitchell, 38, of Luverne, Minnesota, to 13 years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The sentencing took place on August 24, 2026, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Dakota.
Mitchell was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in January 2024. Investigators discovered that Mitchell worked with a co-conspirator to obtain large quantities of fentanyl pills from Denver and sell them around the Sioux Falls area. The two men shared a phone and customers. Investigators used an informant to make two controlled purchases of fentanyl pills from Mitchell's co-conspirator and one controlled purchase of 48 fentanyl pills from Mitchell. A search of Mitchell's storage unit in Sioux Falls yielded approximately 11,777 fentanyl pills. In total, investigators believe Mitchell and his co-conspirator were responsible for trafficking approximately 40,000 fentanyl pills.
“This was a whole lot of fentanyl taken off the streets by these agents and officers, which means that lives were saved,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “I’m grateful for our federal prosecutors and their teams, who have been working so hard to put drug dealers like this out of business and behind bars. Stayed tuned—there’s a lot more to come.”
The case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Investigation, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Mitchell was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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