The battle against drug dealers and criminal networks takes many forms. And as seen in the state of South Dakota (SD), some of the most successful are waged with the help of advanced technology.

Said Preston Patterson, Supervisory Special Agent of the Technical Services Unit of South Dakota’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), “Every drug dealer has multiple cell phones and uses social media messaging to conduct their activities now. These criminal networks use encrypted communications to support their activities. To get ahead of them, we have to be leaders in the use of technology.”

An Anti-Heroin Task Force Grant funds Advanced Technology Solutions

To stay ahead, DCI applied for, and in 2023 was granted, an Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) funding grant for advanced technology solutions from the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office).

The grant, which was used to acquire several different technologies—a communications platform called Intrepid, a cell-site simulator, and electronic video surveillance devices, among them—greatly enhanced the efforts of DCI investigators and their partners in several successful operations.

The first of these began in June 2023, when a DCI Agent in Yankton, SD spearheaded an extensive investigation into a fentanyl distribution network that resulted in the death of an 18-year-old and several other nonfatal overdoses in eastern South Dakota.

Cell Site Simulators Identify Sources of Fentanyl Supply

According to Patterson, this investigation was aided by the use of a cell-site simulator, which can help identify cellular devices used in criminal organizations and, if the need arises, pinpoint a device’s physical location.

This investigation was coordinated through the collaborative efforts of state, local, and federal law enforcement partners in South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. At various stages of the investigation, a cell site simulator was deployed to identify the cellular devices used by one of the fentanyl suppliers in this criminal organization. Law enforcement was able to take further investigative actions with the cellular devices identified.

According to Patterson, “A court-ordered search warrant must be obtained to authorize use of a cell site simulator. But once authorized, the capabilities of this advanced technical equipment are invaluable to law enforcement working complex investigations.”

The investigation concluded with the seizure of approximately 15,000 fentanyl pills, $10,000, and seven firearms as well as the arrest of the individual who supplied the fentanyl that caused the young person’s death. After pleading guilty to multiple criminal offenses in a South Dakota state court, she was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

A portion of the AHTF grant was also used to purchase a communication platform from Intrepid Networks, enabling DCI’s successful collaboration with their partner law enforcement agencies and investigators. Intrepid Networks is not only used for messaging, but also for mapping points of interest, real-time tracking of team members’ locations, and the real-time input of intelligence.

Said Patterson, “We use this communications platform in our daily operations, not just for narcotics, but for any of our major criminal investigations. With the COPS Office grant funding, we were able to purchase a licensing allotment that allows us to lend out user licenses to task force members of other South Dakota law enforcement agencies—state, local, and federal. We can use the allotment to bring in lead investigators from out of state as well.”

Technology Enables Successful Investigation of Complex Cases

Another successful investigation using the Intrepid Networks platform began in October of 2023, when a member of DCI’s Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) Task Force was assigned a fatal overdose case in Rapid City, SD.

A multi-agency narcotics task force, UNET includes members of the Division of Criminal Investigation, Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Federal law enforcement agencies routinely assist UNET in narcotics investigations as well.

In the Rapid City case, the victim was found deceased and alone in a local retailer’s bathroom, with fentanyl and paraphernalia present. With the help of video surveillance technology, investigators identified a witness. When interviewed, this individual stated that approximately 20 minutes prior to the overdose, the victim had purchased fentanyl from a subject who was staying at the neighboring hotel.

The witness fled the area but was located by UNET at that hotel, purchasing more fentanyl from the same person who sold the fentanyl that caused the overdose.

Investigation Led to Prosecution

As this investigation unfolded, it was also discovered that the main subject in this investigation had supplied fentanyl in another nonfatal overdose case, this time of a juvenile. Law enforcement was able to intercept this subject, at which time she was found in possession of 500 fentanyl pills and $26,700.

This individual was charged in state court, convicted, and sentenced to 23 years in prison for her crimes, one of which was for causing the fatal overdose of another victim through her distribution of fentanyl.

Said Patterson, “In today’s landscape of complex narcotic trafficking conspiracy investigations, we rely heavily on technology such as that funded by the AHTF grant. Using these assets enables our agency and task force partners to be much more efficient and effective in our investigative strategies.

“All law enforcement agencies need these new technologies to work together effectively and keep up with the drug dealers and other criminals, or we fall behind them.”

Faye C. Elkins

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