Pierre woman sentenced to federal prison time for being meth runner

 

January 29, 2020

PIERRE, S.D.–A Pierre woman has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for distributing meth.

South Dakota U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons says 35 year-old Nicole Hopkins was sentenced this week. In addition to prison time, she’ll be on five years of supervised release.

Hopkins pled guilty to the drug charges in November.

She and her boyfriend, Nathan Thoe, made numerous trips to Colorado to buy meth, and routinely carried firearms during their travels.

On the last trip in January 2019, Hopkins and Thoe were pulled over at an Interstate 90 rest stop near White Lake, South Dakota.

Thoe disregarded commands to comply, reached for a handgun, and was shot and killed by officers.

At Hopkins’ feet were two BB guns that resembled handguns. She stated they were for, “going out Bonnie and Clyde style.”

Officers recovered 18 grams of meth on that final stop.