Brandon Woman Sentenced for Attempted Meth Smuggling at South Dakota Penitentiary

Melissa Rae Cockerham, a 46-year-old woman from Brandon, South Dakota, has been sentenced to five years in prison, with three and a half years suspended, after pleading guilty to attempting to distribute methamphetamine at the South Dakota State Penitentiary. In November 2023, she attempted to throw a package containing more than five grams of meth over the prison wall to an inmate, but the package was recovered by prison staff before it reached the inmate. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley emphasized that smuggling drugs into prisons is a serious crime that endangers staff, inmates, and the public, reinforcing the state's commitment to protecting prison facilities. The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office following an investigation conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General. The sentencing coincided with increased attention on drug smuggling in the penitentiary, including recent indictments related to inmate overdose deaths from synthetic cannabinoids and other drugs smuggled into the prison. Corrections officials continue to highlight the dangers and ongoing efforts to combat illegal drug distribution within the prison system.