SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) - A large-scale drug bust has resulted in the indictment of nine people in eastern South Dakota on a total of 50 felony charges involving a newly discovered illegal drug that’s risen in popularity and the overdose deaths of two people.
All but one of the suspects named in the Lawrence County grand jury indictments on June 14 have been apprehended, the Rapid City Journal (https://bit.ly/2rQSzSw ) reported.
Authorities alleged the drug ring north of Black Hills distributed methamphetamine as well as a drug similar to fentanyl, a trending synthetic opioid that has been blamed for hundreds of overdose deaths nationwide.
“I have probably not ever seen this many individuals indicted on this many felony counts,” said John Fitzgerald, the Lawrence County state’s attorney whose career as a prosecutor spans nearly 40 years.
The suspects named in the indictment are Eric Michael Reeder, 37; Ashley Kristina Kuntz, 32; Terry Geib, 32; Todd May, 26; Marcus Pelletier, 25; Jeffrey Deux, 33; Spencer Krueger, 27; and Eric Koller, 32. They face charges ranging from drug counts to manslaughter in connection with the January overdose deaths of Spearfish residents Carerra Hall, 23, and Troy Kuntz, 38.
Fitzgerald confirmed Ashley Kuntz is related to Troy Kuntz, but the prosecutor declined to say how.
Authorities said the two deaths involved the fentanyl equivalent.
“This is a drug that mimics fentanyl, a pharmaceutical painkiller that is very powerful and highly regulated,” Fitzgerald said. “Fentanyl analog mimics those effects, but is not a pharmaceutical drug at all; it is a controlled substance listed as Schedule I narcotic, meaning it is not available under any circumstances at all. No one can prescribe it because it because it can be a deadly substance.”
Lawrence County Chief Deputy Paul Hansen said some drugs were seized during arrests of the suspects, but he declined to release the amount.
Ashley Kuntz and Deux have been arraigned and released on bond, while the remaining defendants remain in custody at the Lawrence County Jail in Deadwood.
Hansen said the ninth defendant in the case is still at large.
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Information from: Rapid City Journal, https://www.rapidcityjournal.com
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