By: Joshua Haiar
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) — Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Thursday that five people — a former guard, two inmates and two others — face charges in connection with an alleged conspiracy to bring drugs and contraband into the South Dakota State Penitentiary.
“It’s always begged the question: Where are the drugs coming from? How are they getting into the prison? And today we’re able to answer that,” Jackley said during a press conference at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
He announced that a Minnehaha County grand jury on Wednesday indicted former correctional officer Carson DeYoung, 22, of Sioux Falls; inmates Max Bolden, 42, and Simba Oma Maat, 25; and two other people, Nancy Sage, 52, of Sioux Falls, and Chandler Boone, 31, of Denver.
Myriad charges filed
All five face felony charges for allegedly conspiring to distribute meth and a synthetic form of marijuana known as K2, along with allegedly conspiring to deliver cellphones. They also face a misdemeanor charge for allegedly conspiring to deliver vape pens.
DeYoung faces additional counts for possessing and allegedly agreeing to smuggle anabolic steroids. Sage faces extra charges for allegedly possessing meth and K2.
If convicted of all the charges, all five could face decades in prison and tens of thousands of dollars in fines.
Jackley alleged that Boone obtained items and mailed them to Sage, who worked with DeYoung to get them into the prison. A press release from Jackley’s office said “DeYoung had not yet transported these particular items into the pen but had agreed to do so,” adding, “There is an ongoing investigation as to what other items DeYoung may have transported into the pen.”
The indictment covers crimes allegedly committed Aug. 8-14.
“I’m not suggesting there isn’t more activity, but that’s what we focused on with respect to these charges,” Jackley said.
Bolden is already serving a life sentence for murder. Maat is incarcerated for burglary convictions, with release scheduled in 2028. Because both are already serving prison sentences, their maximum sentences if convicted of the new charges would be doubled under state law, Jackley explained.
Jackley said the state Division of Criminal Investigation led the investigation with cooperation from the state Department of Corrections and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, including staff from the Sioux Falls Police Department and the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office.
“Transporting illegal items into the prison makes the facility less safe for staff and inmates,” Jackley said. “We will not tolerate such activity.”
Jackley said the investigation is ongoing and could result in more charges.
New prison vote looms
In response to questions from reporters, Jackley said the indictments had nothing to do with Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko’s recent resignation announcement or the legislative vote scheduled Tuesday on a $650 million plan to replace the oldest parts of the penitentiary with a new men’s prison at a separate site in northeast Sioux Falls.
When asked if better facilities could have helped prevent the alleged crimes, Jackley said criminal activity will always occur in prisons, but new security systems could help.
“This is an outdated facility that needs to be replaced for the safety of the officers involved, for the prison staff, including medical nurses, as well as other inmates,” Jackley said.
The new charges come after a string of unrest, deaths and allegedly criminal incidents at the penitentiary and other state prison facilities during the past several years. That includes an announcement by the state Department of Corrections in May that it had busted a ring of drug smuggling in prison facilities with the aid of the Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postmaster General’s Office.
Rash of state employee criminal allegations
The new charges against a former correctional officer continue a run of criminal allegations against former state employees related to their work for state government.
Since July of 2024, Jackley has won convictions against former state employees whose crimes included stealing $1.8 million over the course of 13 years from the state Department of Social Services, creating fake vehicle titles to avoid taxes, filing false food-service inspection reports, using grocery vouchers intended for foster families, and self-issuing a medical marijuana card.
In response, Jackley supported a package of four bills passed during this year’s legislative session that expanded the investigatory authority of the state auditor; strengthened the Board of Internal Controls; instituted mandatory reporting requirements for state employees and penalties for failing to report; and established protections for whistleblowers.
Gov. Larry Rhoden signed an executive order in April mandating the creation of a “secure standard reporting mechanism” for employees. The portal delivers whistleblower reports of malfeasance to the state’s auditor and attorney general.
Lawmakers also passed legislation this year strengthening the ability of the Legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee to conduct investigations and issue orders known as subpoenas requiring people to testify or supply information.
Last year, then-Gov. Kristi Noem added an extra internal control officer position to the executive branch and ordered state employees to undergo annual training aimed at preventing criminal activity
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