A Rapid City woman has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for retaliating against a witness who testified in a fentanyl distribution case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota announced.
Vanessa Highpipe, 31, received a five‑year prison term on Jan. 30, along with five years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. She was indicted in May 2025 and later pleaded guilty on Nov. 10 to obstructing justice by retaliating against a witness.
Prosecutors said Highpipe assaulted the victim in April 2025 in Rapid City, striking the individual with a closed fist and causing minor injuries. The victim had testified in the federal trial that led to the March 2025 conviction of Highpipe’s romantic partner for distributing fentanyl resulting in death.
According to officials, Highpipe later admitted she attacked the victim because of that testimony.
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