RAPID CITY, S.D. – Two Rapid City, South Dakota women have each been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for their roles in trafficking a deadly amount of fentanyl. Christina Sanchez, 25, and Katey McGruder, 35, were convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death.
The convictions stem from a fentanyl distribution network operating in Rapid City. Prosecutors say McGruder, along with her husband, Curtis Cummings, obtained large amounts of fentanyl from a supplier in Colorado. They are accused of transporting the drugs back to Rapid City, where Sanchez and others further distributed them.
On April 26, 2022, authorities say McGruder and Cummings supplied Sanchez with fentanyl, which she then passed on to Wyatt Nygaard. Nygaard provided the fentanyl to a victim who overdosed and died in a convenience store parking lot within minutes of receiving the drug.
Nygaard was previously sentenced to more than 23 years in federal prison for his involvement. Cummings is scheduled to stand trial on November 5, 2024.
Over the past 35 years, total arrests have increased 25% for women, while decreasing 33% for men, according to Prison Policy Initiative. Much of that increase is driven by drug-related arrests, which skyrocketed nearly 216% for women, compared to 48% for men.
