SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A Las Vegas man who helped introduce powder fentanyl to the Sioux Falls area has been sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison.
Quantiae Harris, also known as “Pops” and “Q-Ball,” was sentenced this week to 292 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. A federal jury found him guilty after a five-day trial of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Testimony showed Harris led a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills. Investigators say the group, which included others known as “Lil Bro”, “Dee,” and “Bubba”, was also among the first to bring powder fentanyl, a more potent and dangerous form of the drug, into the Sioux Falls market. Authorities say powder fentanyl has since become a predominant illegal opioid in the area.
Prosecutors say Harris led a California- and Nevada-based operation in 2023 and 2024 that transported large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl into South Dakota. The organization shipped drugs through the U.S. mail and used rental vehicles with hidden compartments to move drugs from California to Sioux Falls.
Once in the city, the group initially operated out of hotel rooms before shifting to short-term rental properties, including Airbnbs, which were used as distribution bases for local sub-dealers.
Prosecutors say the group avoided conducting sales at those locations. Instead, customers would call or text and be directed to meet at nearby public locations. The exchanges were brief, often lasting only seconds, and payments were made in cash or through online transfer services, most commonly Cash App.
Investigators say Harris and others vacuum-sealed cash proceeds and hid them in rental vehicles for return trips to Nevada and California. Some of the money was also deposited into local banks. Harris was directly linked to more than $1.2 million in money laundering transactions.
