Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to 20 Years Following Near-Fatal Fentanyl Overdose

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - A 39-year-old Sioux Falls woman will spend the next two decades in federal prison following a June 2025 fentanyl distribution case that nearly claimed a woman’s life.

On March 16, 2026, Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange sentenced Ashlee Vanarsdale to 20 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Vanarsdale was also ordered to pay a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The Incident and Investigation

The case stems from an emergency call on the afternoon of June 5, 2025, when Sioux Falls Police responded to a report of an overdose.

·         Life-Saving Measures: First responders discovered an unconscious victim who had stopped breathing. She was successfully revived through the administration of Narcan before being transported to a local hospital.

·         The Evidence: Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the victim’s system.

·         The Sale: Investigators determined the victim had purchased fentanyl powder from Vanarsdale shortly before the overdose. During an interview with law enforcement, Vanarsdale admitted to selling the victim a half-gram of the substance for $150.

Legal Proceedings

A federal grand jury indicted Vanarsdale in July 2025 and subsequently pleaded guilty to Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury on December 17, 2025.

Following the sentencing hearing, Vanarsdale was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The conviction was the result of a joint investigation by the Sioux Falls Police Department, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.