(Sioux Falls, SD) — Twenty-six people now face charges tied to violence and drug-related deaths inside the South Dakota State Penitentiary. Attorney General Marty Jackley says 24 inmates have been indicted for their roles in a May 27th riot that left 14 injured, including four who were hospitalized. Jackley believes the violence was gang-related and coordinated. One inmate and one visitor face serious charges tied to separate overdose deaths. One of the inmates, Manarion Fuse, is accused in the February K2 overdose death of Anthony Richards. Another suspect, Melibu Ross, is accused of bringing meth and cocaine into the prison. One of the inmates she allegedly supplied later died. Ross is now in jail on a hundred-thousand-dollar cash bond. So far this year, the Department of Corrections has reported 12 inmate deaths. Two more from suspected overdoses are still under investigation.
