Reliance Man, Seventh in a Large-Scale Conspiracy, Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine in the Pierre Area

PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Reliance, South Dakota, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on September 15, 2025.

Heath Choal, age 51, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Choal was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on June 2, 2025.

This conviction stemmed from a drug distribution conspiracy beginning in June 2023 and continuing until September 2024. Choal would obtain methamphetamine from his codefendants Misty and Heather Stahlhoefer, who were the sources of supply to several other individuals in the Pierre area. The Stahlhoefers would acquire up to one pound of methamphetamine per trip to be further distributed by themselves and others including Choal, Whitney Marrowbone, Wendy Mealer, Brent Larvie, and David Rinehart. The conspiracy involved between 30 and 35 pounds of methamphetamine.

The co-defendants who were earlier sentenced to federal prison are as follows:

• Misty Stahlhoefer was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison.
• Heather Stahlhoefer was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison.
• Marrowbone was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.
• Mealer was sentenced to six years in federal prison.
• Larvie was sentenced to four years and six months in federal prison.
• Rinehart was sentenced to two years in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI's Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Pierre Police Department, the Chamberlain Police Department, and the Lyman County Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges.

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