California Man Sentenced to 33 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - A California man has been sentenced to 33 years in federal prison for leading a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking and money laundering organization operating between California and South Dakota.

Darrel Devorce, 56, of San Jacinto, California, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on November 3, 2025, after being convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. Following his release from federal prison, Devorce will be subject to 10 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and a fine.

Devorce was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024 and pleaded guilty on July 28, 2025.

According to a statement from U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons, Devorce was a longtime methamphetamine dealer who had been shipping the drug into South Dakota since at least 2018.

“Devorce is a longtime meth dealer responsible for shipping that poison into South Dakota since at least 2018,” said Parsons. “He will now be separated from the rest of society for most of the rest of his life.”

An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force revealed that Devorce was responsible for running the trafficking organization for approximately five years. Investigators determined that Devorce began sourcing methamphetamine to co-conspirators in Sioux Falls around 2018 and continued through 2023.

As the leader of the organization, Devorce arranged for methamphetamine to be delivered from California to co-conspirators in South Dakota. He also directed others to use financial platforms like CashApp, Western Union, and Zelle to conduct transactions involving the drug proceeds. These money transfers were designed to conceal the source of the funds and Devorce’s involvement in the conspiracy.

Special Agent in Charge William Steenson of IRS Criminal Investigation commented on the successful dismantling of the criminal organization. “Devorce’s 400-month prison sentence is a reflection of that dedication and our determination to use our financial expertise to help get dangerous people off our streets,” Steenson said.

Multiple other individuals from both California and South Dakota were involved in the conspiracy, with over ten having been charged and convicted in federal court to date.

Devorce was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.