A woman from Rapid City has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for obstructing justice by retaliating against a witness, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence on January 30, 2026.
Vanessa Highpipe, age 31, will also serve five years of supervised release following her prison term and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Highpipe was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025 on charges of obstructing justice by retaliation against a witness. She pleaded guilty to the charge on November 10, 2025.
The incident occurred in April 2025 when Highpipe assaulted the victim with a closed fist, causing minor injuries after encountering them in Rapid City. The victim had previously testified at a federal jury trial where Highpipe’s romantic partner was convicted for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death in March 2025. After the assault, Highpipe reportedly told others that she attacked the victim because of their testimony at the trial.
The case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), which includes members from several agencies: Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol and South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
Following sentencing, Highpipe was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
