Department of Justice

RAPID CITY, S.D. — U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The sentencing took place on August 25.

Amanda Vu, 36, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Vu was indicted for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (methamphetamine) by a federal grand jury in October 2022. She pleaded guilty on May 15.

Starting around January 2020 and lasting until her arrest in November 2022, Vu obtained methamphetamine from Colorado, which she then transported to South Dakota. Vu sold the methamphetamine to people in South Dakota for use or to further distribute. Although exact quantities are unknown, law enforcement estimates she brought back approximately 60 kilograms of methamphetamine. During the conspiracy, the defendant also rented multiple vehicles, a storage unit and short-term house rentals to facilitate her organization and avoid detection by law enforcement. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, which is a local drug task force comprised of law enforcement 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.

Vu was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.

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