RAPID CITY, S.D. — A Nebraska woman has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for her role in distributing large quantities of methamphetamine on the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid City.
Casey Lopez, 51, helped a Mexican cartel establish a foothold on the Pine Ridge Reservation. During sentencing, Judge Karen Schreier condemned Lopez’s actions, emphasizing the severe harm she inflicted on the community. Schreier also noted that the methamphetamine Lopez distributed was 100% pure and sourced directly from Mexican cartels.
Prosecutors said Lopez acted as a leader in the conspiracy, setting drug prices and coordinating distribution.
The case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the FBI.
