SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – On November 2, 2026, U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier imposed substantial federal prison sentences on two Sioux Falls residents convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Julia Pewo, age 63, received a 15-year prison term followed by five years of supervised release. Coye Nohava, age 42, was sentenced to 14 years in prison with eight years of supervised release. Both defendants were ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The convictions stem from a federal grand jury indictment returned in July 2025 charging Pewo and Nohava with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. After a three-day jury trial that concluded on August 13, 2026, both defendants were found guilty.
Evidence presented at trial established that Pewo and Nohava operated as sub-distributors within a larger methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy led by Matthew Shade in South Dakota. Shade coordinated with associates in Arizona to procure methamphetamine, which was then transported to South Dakota via mail or vehicle. Pewo and Nohava obtained methamphetamine from co-conspirators sourced by Shade and further distributed the drug locally.
The quantities attributed to each defendant were significant: Pewo was linked to approximately 13 pounds of methamphetamine, while Nohava was connected to about 4 pounds. Additionally, Nohava was found to have obstructed justice by committing perjury during his trial testimony.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges led the prosecution.
Following sentencing, Pewo was ordered to self-surrender to federal authorities by noon on November 13, 2026. Nohava was immediately remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
United States Attorney Ron Parsons emphasized the seriousness of the offenses and the coordinated law enforcement efforts that led to the convictions and sentencing. The case highlights ongoing federal initiatives to combat methamphetamine trafficking in South Dakota and across state lines.
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Sioux Falls Couple Receives Lengthy Federal Prison Sentences for Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy A federal judge in South Dakota has sentenced Julia Pewo and Coye Nohava to lengthy prison terms following their convictions for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The duo acted as sub-distributors in a larger tr... Read the full WLF article: https://worldlawyersforum.org/news/sioux-falls-couple-receives-lengthy-federal-prison-sentences-for-methamphetamine-distribution-conspiracy