Rapid City man sentenced to over 24 years for distributing meth on Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid City
A Rapid City man has been sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine on the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid City.
By News Channel NebraskaRAPID CITY, S.D. — A Rapid City man has been sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine on the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid City.
Demitre Ecoffey, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Prosecutors said that throughout 2024 and 2025, Ecoffey bought pound-level amounts of meth and resold them across the region. During the conspiracy, he also engaged in high-risk behavior, including high-speed chases through Rapid City and the Pine Ridge Reservation, destroying evidence, and possessing multiple firearms.
“Strong detective work and collaboration by all levels of law enforcement in the state have ensured that our citizens in western South Dakota will be protected from this dangerous individual for the next quarter century or so,” said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, the FBI, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team. UNET includes members of 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.