Man dealing meth, coke, pot gets 7 years in prison

A 53-year-old man convicted of trafficking drugs in Sioux Falls was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison.

Fred Earl Davis Jr. of Sioux Falls was sentenced Monday on one count of federal conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

A confidential law enforcement informant identified Davis as a source for marijuana and other drugs in Sioux Falls, according to court records.

The informant told authorities that Davis would get drugs from a source in Colorado and bring them back to Sioux Falls.

Authorities passed the information to the South Dakota Highway Patrol. When a trooper stopped Davis for speeding, authorities found about $5,000 in cash, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana in the car.

At the sentencing, Federal Judge Karen Schreier said it’s rare to see a dealer involved in more than one drug.

“I encourage you to find legitimate ways to make money and not get back into drugs,” she said.

After Davis’ arrest, he told authorities he had been picking up marijuana from Colorado and selling it for a decade, but he had been trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine for only eight to nine months.

With a search warrant, authorities found more drugs, multiple firearms and a large amount of cash at Davis' home.

“(Davis) is a formidable drug dealer in his own right and should be sentenced that way,” said Jennifer Mammenga, a federal prosecutor.

Davis told the court he accepts responsibility for his actions and hopes to get a fresh start after prison.

“I promised my mom on her deathbed that this will never happen again, and you will never see me again,” Davis told Schreier.