Home / Crime and Justice / Wisconsin Man Pleads Guilty in Major Drug Bust
Wisconsin Man Pleads Guilty in Major Drug Bust
18 Jul
Summary
- Nearly 125 pounds of marijuana seized in a traffic stop.
- Michael Lever pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute.
- Co-defendant Marty Kyles received a four-year prison sentence.
A significant drug bust occurred west of Mitchell, South Dakota, when nearly 125 pounds of marijuana were seized during a traffic stop. Michael Lever, aged 34 and from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty on July 14, 2026, to a Class 3 felony charge of possession with intent to distribute a large quantity of marijuana. This plea resulted in other charges being dropped.
The incident began on September 24, 2025, with a South Dakota Highway Patrol trooper stopping a vehicle for speeding on Interstate 90. A subsequent search revealed approximately 1,996 ounces of marijuana, packaged in heat-sealed bags, along with vape cartridges and drug paraphernalia. The trooper noted the smell of marijuana, and neither Lever nor passenger Marty Vonderrick Kyles possessed a valid medical marijuana card for South Dakota.
Marty Kyles, the passenger, has already been sentenced in June 2026. He received a 10-year prison sentence, with six years suspended, meaning he must serve four years. Judge Chris Giles has ordered a presentence investigation for Lever, with sentencing scheduled for October 2026. In South Dakota, a Class 3 felony carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.
