Kansas Woman Sentenced to 20 Years for Drug Conspiracy in South Dakota

Steve Jurrens
Oct 1
2 min read

Northeast Radio SD News – Sioux Falls, SD - A Kansas woman has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after being convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing of Amanda Acosta, 43, of Prairie Village, Kansas, was handed down by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on September 29, 2025.

Following her release from prison, Acosta will be subject to five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Acosta was first indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge on July 17, 2025.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Acosta became involved with a drug trafficking organization based in California that was operating out of Sioux Falls starting in July 2024. She served as a sub-distributor for the organization, purchasing substantial quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. She then sold the drugs for profit to individuals in Sioux Falls and other areas throughout South Dakota.

Additionally, Acosta allowed the trafficking organization to ship packages of fentanyl pills directly to her residence through the mail. Her involvement concluded with her arrest in September 2024.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce.

This conviction is part of a national initiative known as Operation Take Back America, which utilizes Department of Justice resources to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The operation streamlines efforts from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), which focuses on reducing violent crime in communities.

Acosta was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the sentencing.