Sioux Falls, South Dakota Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on March 16, 2026.

Ashlee Vanarsdale, 39, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Vanarsdale was indicted for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in July 2025. She pleaded guilty on December 17, 2025.

On the afternoon of June 5, 2025, Sioux Falls Police were dispatched to a report of a woman reportedly overdosing on fentanyl. First responders found the victim unconscious and not breathing. They were able to revive her through the administration of Narcan. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where a blood test showed the presence of fentanyl in her system. The subsequent investigation revealed the victim had purchased fentanyl powder from Vanarsdale shortly before the overdose. In an interview with law enforcement, Vanarsdale admitted selling the victim half a gram of fentanyl powder for $150.

This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.

Vanarsdale was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.