Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal Prison in Fentanyl Case

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - A Sioux Falls man has been sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for his role in distributing fentanyl in the city.

Federal officials say 33‑year‑old Elizeo Kalimba was sentenced April 13 by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange to 19 years and seven months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Kalimba was convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance following a jury trial in federal court in October 2025. A federal grand jury had indicted him in February 2024.

According to court records, Kalimba worked with another individual to obtain thousands of fentanyl pills from Arizona, which were brought to Sioux Falls for distribution.

Investigators with the Sioux Falls Police Department used a confidential informant to conduct two controlled purchases of fentanyl pills from Kalimba.

Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at Kalimba’s home, where approximately 3,900 fentanyl pills were found. Investigators believe Kalimba was responsible for trafficking more than 13,000 fentanyl pills in and around Sioux Falls.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges handled the prosecution.

Kalimba was taken into custody immediately following sentencing and remanded to the U.S. Marshals Service.