District of South Dakota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a FelonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 24, 2026.
Tanner Standing Bear, 21, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture was also ordered.
Standing Bear was indicted for two counts of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in March 2026. He pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026.
On March 3, 2026, Standing Bear was released from the Pennington County Jail. Within a few hours, Standing Bear was in possession of a .22 caliber pistol and fired several rounds near Knollwood Elementary school, causing teachers to quickly gather children that were outside for recess back into the school. Standing Bear had fled by the time law enforcement arrived. Law enforcement located Standing Bear the following day in possession of a second firearm and ammunition. Standing Bear is prohibited from possession firearms and ammunition based on multiple prior felony convictions.
“This was a terrifying situation for all involved,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “I want to commend the staff of Knollwood Elementary for acting so quickly to keep everyone safe.”
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Standing Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Porcupine Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, three counts of Wire Fraud, and three counts of Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on August 24, 2026.
Patrick Ross, age 56, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,744,415.36 in restitution.
From May 2006 to November 2024, Ross’s co-defendant worked for the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s (OST) Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO), which enforces the tribal requirement that all employers engaged in business on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation give preference to qualified Native Americans in employment, contracting, and other business or economic development activities. One of the co-defendant’s duties was to collect TERO fee checks from contractors and transfer them to OST’s revenue department for deposit into the tribe’s general fund. OST’s general fund is used for emergency management services, solid waste disposal, water and sewer services, burial assistance, medical assistance, utility assistance, education assistance, and emergency assistance for tribal members in need of food and shelter due to emergencies. Between November 2017 and May 2024, Ross, a former employee of TERO, and his co-defendant, working together, developed a scheme to defraud OST by diverting TERO fee checks totaling more than $4.7 million belonging to the tribe and depositing the checks into Ross’ bank account, which Ross had opened for the purpose of carrying out the scheme to defraud the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The two then split the embezzled funds between themselves and used the funds for their own personal benefit, including purchasing homes and vehicles. Ross is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Ross’ co-defendant, Buffy Redfish, was previously sentenced to 78 months custody.
“As Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald has assured, there is no fraud too big, and no fraud too small, for the Department of Justice to prosecute,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “But this case is one of the big ones. Almost five million dollars, stolen from the Oglala Sioux Tribe and its members by Patrick Ross and Buffy Redfish. Be assured: if you steal from the government, including tribal governments, we have the tools to find you and you will find yourself, in short order, sitting in a federal prison cell.”
“Patrick Ross’s sentencing brings accountability for his role, together with co-defendant Buffy Redfish, in a years‑long scheme that diverted more than $4.7 million from an Oglala Sioux Tribe program. Ross violated the trust placed in him and harmed the community these funds were meant to serve,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting tribal resources, uncovering complex financial fraud, and ensuring that individuals entrusted with public funds meet the highest standards of integrity.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Ross was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mexican National Sentenced in Federal Court for Illegal Reentry after DeportationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY – U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation. The sentencing took place on August 25, 2026.
Rolando Hernandez-Estrada, 39, was sentenced to time served and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. He will be deported to Mexico.
Hernandez-Estrada was indicted for Illegal Reentry after Deportation by a federal grand jury in March 2026. He pleaded guilty on July 20, 2026.
Hernandez-Estrada is an illegal alien who has been deported from the United States to Mexico on four separate occasions. It is a federal felony to be inside the United States after having been deported. Since being in the United States unlawfully, Hernandez-Estrada has been convicted of domestic abuse, illegal reentry after deportation, and possession of a controlled substance.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Sturgis Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026.
Carl Wahl, 55, was sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each charge. Wahl was also ordered to pay $30,285 in restitution and forfeiture was ordered.
Wahl was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 1, 2026.
Between May and August of 2023, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received CyberTips for investigation. A search warrant for Wahl’s residence and electronic devices was obtained. Several of Wahl’s electronic devices, including his HP laptop and his two cellphones, were examined and all three devices contained visual depictions of child sexual abuse material that Wahl knowingly and intentionally viewed, possessed, and received using the internet.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case.
Wahl was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to over 13 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 24, 2026.
Lorenzo Rene Portillo, 37, was sentenced to 13 years and 5 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Portillo was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on May 5, 2026.
Portillo was a member of a conspiracy distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in Sioux Falls between September 2024 and February 2025. He also obtained methamphetamine from co-conspirators to distribute to others who would then sell it. He was arrested on February 10, 2025, when law enforcement officers conducted a search of a residence where he was temporarily staying and discovered a handgun. Portillo is prohibited from possessing firearms based upon his multiple felony convictions.
“Collaborating with all levels of law enforcement, our dedicated federal prosecutors and their teams are working overtime to do everything possible to protect our communities from the deadly combination of career criminals, drugs, and guns,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “The conviction of this repeat felon and the long prison sentence he will serve represent another step forward toward accomplishing that mission. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from; if you are selling illegal drugs in South Dakota, we are coming for you and this is your fate.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Portillo was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on August 24, 2026.
Garrett Yellow Hair, 44, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Yellow Hair was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2026. He pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026.
Yellow Hair was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child in August 2007, in federal court in South Dakota. The victim was a 4-year-old girl. Yellow Hair was sentenced to just over 10 years in federal prison. Based upon the conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life under the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In November 2023, Yellow Hair was convicted of the federal charge of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. On September 8, 2025, he was released from the Pennington County Jail after completing his sentence on a supervised release violation. Yellow Hair updated his address, but then did not actually reside at that address between September and October 2025. Yellow Hair knew he was in violation of the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Yellow Hair was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a FelonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026.
Wakiyan Dreamer, 28, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture was also ordered.
Dreamer was indicted for Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in June 2025 and indicted by superseding indictment for Possession of Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 23, 2026.
On May 13, 2025, in Rapid City, the Rapid City Police Department responded to a shots-fired report at a gas station. Law enforcement recovered a Norma brand 9mm Luger shell casing nearby in the middle of the street. Law enforcement reviewed video surveillance footage from outside the gas station. It showed Dreamer shooting a pistol in the middle of a street toward a group of people, where the 9mm shell casing was found by law enforcement shortly after the shooting.
Dreamer had been convicted of a crime punishable beyond a year in prison and therefore he is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Dreamer procured this pistol by arranging for his significant other, Madeline Bloemendaal, to buy the firearm for him from a Federal Firearms Licensee (“FFL”). She gave a false statement to the FFL representing she was buying the firearm for herself, when in reality she was buying it for Dreamer. Bloemendaal has since been convicted and sentenced.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Dreamer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Luverne, Minnesota Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Luverne, Minnesota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on August 24, 2026.
Shaun Mitchell, 38, was sentenced to 13 years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Mitchell was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in January 2024.
Investigators discovered that Mitchell worked with a co-conspirator to obtain large quantities of fentanyl pills from Denver and then sell them around the Sioux Falls area. The two men shared a phone and customers. Investigators utilized an informant to make two controlled purchases of fentanyl pills from Mitchell’s co-conspirator and also to conduct a controlled purchase of 48 fentanyl pills from Mitchell. Eventually, investigators learned Mitchell had a storage unit in Sioux Falls, obtained a warrant for the unit, and ultimately discovered approximately 11,777 fentanyl pills inside the storage unit. In total, investigators believe Mitchell and his co-conspirator were responsible for trafficking approximately 40,000 fentanyl pills.
“This was a whole lot of fentanyl taken off the streets by these agents and officers, which means that lives were saved,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “I’m grateful for our federal prosecutors and their teams, who have been working so hard to put drug dealers like this out of business and behind bars. Stayed tuned—there’s a lot more to come.”
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Mitchell was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon and as a Drug UserRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 24, 2026.
Anthony James Howard, 34, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Howard was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2026. He pleaded guilty on June 29, 2026.
According to court records, in early December 2025, Howard was wielding a semi-automatic pistol after consuming methamphetamine. He was prohibited from possessing the firearm due to previous felony convictions. Howard fired the firearm and shot himself in the foot.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Howard was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on August 24, 2026.
Hayden Sengua, 26, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $15,685 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The Court also ordered the forfeiture of the defendant’s external hard drive and two cellular phones.
Sengua was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 21, 2026.
Beginning in 2018 and continuing into January 2025, Sengua knowingly downloaded image and video files containing sexually explicit visual depictions of young children. Sengua saved the files on his cell phone, in his Google account, and on an external hard drive. Altogether, Sengua was in possession of approximately 15,000 total media files depicting child sexual abuse. Some of the imagery Sengua collected depicts the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, as well as the bondage and torture of minors. Sengua also used a virtual machine to attempt to hide his collection of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Sengua was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on August 24, 2026.
Joseph Running, age 31, was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Running was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2025. He pleaded guilty on May 6, 2026.
Running was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in United States District Court, District of South Dakota in June 2020. As a result of his conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation, a change in employment, or a change in student status. In March 2025, Running updated his sex offender registration to reflect that he was residing at a residence in Rosebud, SD. He left that residence in September 2025 and did not update his registration. An arrest warrant was issued, and on November 18, 2025, Running was arrested in Rosebud, SD.
This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case.
Running was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mexican National Sentenced in Federal Court for Illegal Reentry after DeportationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY – U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026.
Angel Takashi Cano-Meza, 36, was sentenced to time served. He will be deported to Mexico.
Cano-Meza was indicted for Illegal Reentry after Deportation by a federal grand jury in July 2026. He pleaded guilty on August 17, 2026.
Cano-Meza is an illegal alien who was deported from the United States to Mexico in 2022. Cano-Meza was again deported from the United States in 2024. On June 20, 2026, Cano-Meza was in custody for an arrest in Pennington County for possession of a fictitious driver’s license, impersonation to deceive law enforcement, and open container in a motor vehicle. Local authorities notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who discovered Cano-Meza’s true identity and history of deportations. It is a federal felony for an alien to be in the United States after having been deported from the United States without obtaining the consent of the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Attorney General of the United States to apply for lawful admission into the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Pine Ridge Man Convicted After Trial of Federal Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Clayton High Wolf, Jr., age 41, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on August 20, 2026.
The charge for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life imprisonment, a $10 million dollar fine, at least five years up to life supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
High Wolf, Jr. was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. The investigation determined that beginning in October 2024, High Wolf, Jr. worked with numerous individuals to sell methamphetamine on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to end-users. During the investigation, law enforcement agents arrested High Wolf, Jr. following a high-speed pursuit through residential streets in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. When he was caught, officers discovered High Wolf, Jr. in possession of 90 grams of methamphetamine destined for further distribution.
“The conviction of this methamphetamine dealer distributing that poison on the Pine Ridge Reservation will improve public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Our federal prosecutors and their teams do incredible work and are dedicated to the mission of trying to ensure that every community in South Dakota is as safe as it can possibly be.”
This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation will be ordered, and a sentencing date will be set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Waubay Man Sentenced to 20 Months in Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Waubay, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026.
Dawson Roger Locke, age 19, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Locke was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on June 28, 2025 when Locke shot another young adult with a handgun. Locke and others were drinking in Enemy Swim, SD when Locke got into an argument with one of the other individuals present. As the argument escalated, Locke drew a handgun from his waistband and fired three shots in the direction of the victim. One of the shots hit the victim in the leg.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
Locke was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026.
Kyle Lee Tobacco, 32, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Tobacco was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on May 15, 2026.
Tobacco was arrested on March 4, 2025, when law enforcement officers conducting a search warrant found him in possession of a pistol in his hotel room. He was prohibited from possessing the firearm because he had previous felony convictions for escape and possession of a firearm by a felon.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Tobacco was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Agency Village Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for AssaultRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced an Agency Village, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026.
Donald Philip Red Owl, age 45, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison, 1 year of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25.
Red Owl was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on October 28, 2024, when Red Owl struck his 15-year-old daughter in the face when she refused to give her cell phone to him.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
Red Owl was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Convicted of Child Pornography Charges Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Distribution of Child Pornography, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on August 14, 2026.
Jesse Luiz Jaso, 22, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for each count, followed by five years of supervised release. Each sentence was ordered to run concurrently. Further, Jaso was ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, a $1,000 fine and will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Jaso was indicted for Distribution of Child Pornography, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in February 2024. He was found guilty of all counts on May 21, 2026, following a 2-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City.
In February 2023, a Rapid City Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Detective received a Cybertip from Snapchat that Jesse Jaso was distributing child pornography. Through the investigation and subsequent search and seizure of Jaso’s phone, law enforcement learned he had been communicating with individuals online, purchasing child pornography, and soliciting others to exchange child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Jaso was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Parker Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for EscapeRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Parker, South Dakota, convicted of Escape. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026.
Michael Sherard, 39, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Sherard was indicted for Escape by a federal grand jury in May 2026. He pleaded guilty on June 22, 2026.
Sherard was serving a sentence for a felony conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. In January of 2026 he was transferred to a halfway house in Sioux Falls to serve the remainder of his sentence. In April, he left the facility to go to work and did not return. He was later arrested in Sioux Falls and charged with a new offense of possession of a controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Sherard was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Dallas, Texas, Man Sentenced to over 10 Years in Federal Prison Following Conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Dallas, Texas, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on August 14, 2026.
Gerardo Escobar Balderas, 38, was sentenced to concurrent federal prison sentences of 10 years and one month on the conspiracy and money laundering charges, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Escobar Balderas was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.
Escobar Balderas was involved in a cocaine conspiracy that spanned from Texas to Rapid City. He was based in Texas and sent cocaine through the mail to an individual in Rapid City. The cocaine was then distributed by multiple people in Rapid City and money was sent to Escobar through electronic cash transfers. Investigators believe Escobar distributed approximately 12 kilograms of cocaine to individuals in Rapid City while he was involved in the conspiracy.
Escobar Balderas was the last of eight defendants sentenced in the conspiracy. Omar Ornelas received 15 years; Larissa Ross received 20 months; Tyler Eagle Elk received 30 months; Jeffrey Cooley received 30 months; Kiana Pilcher received 35 months; A’Aliyah Leclaire received 12 months and one day; and Sesalie Red Owl received 24 months.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Escobar Balderas was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Cherry Creek Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting His Intimate Partner and Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons, announced today that U.S. District Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Cherry Creek, South Dakota man convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026.
Tiger Condon, age 31, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture of his firearm and ammunition was also ordered.
Condon was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 16, 2026.
The convictions stem from incidents that occurred in November 2024 in Dewey County, South Dakota, in the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. On November 1, 2024, Condon, who had been in a long-term relationship with the victim, arrived at her residence in Eagle Butte. Condon kicked in the door of the residence and began to assault the victim by hitting her in the face multiple times, causing one of her eyes to swell shut. Condon was arrested tribally but after bonding out of jail, he arrived back at the residence with a pistol. Condon had been previously convicted of a felony drug charge in the State of South Dakota and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a
federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be
prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
Condon was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Files Civil Complaint against Texas Corporation and North Carolina Man for Allegedly Defrauding MedicareRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons has announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota filed a civil complaint against two defendants for an alleged scheme to defraud Medicare. The complaint filed in federal court is part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.
“We’ve been directed by the Attorney General to do everything possible to eliminate fraud against the government and seek to recover funds stolen from taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “That is what we are doing—and I am incredibly proud of our Assistant United States Attorneys and our entire team of legal specialists who are working so hard to accomplish that mission.”
As alleged in the complaint, Michael Bingham, age 72, of Laurel Springs, North Carolina, and NeuroSolutions 100, LLC, of Dallas, Texas, violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims, false records, and false statements to obtain funds from Medicare. The government seeks a total recovery of $4,591,003 from the defendants. Within the complaint, the government alleges that NeuroSolutions 100, LLC, which is owned by Michael Bingham, improperly billed Medicare for the surgical implantation of electro-neurostimulators, when in fact the devices were temporary non-surgical electro-acupuncture devices applied behind the patients ear using an adhesive and/or with needles inserted into the patient’s ear similar to acupuncture. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) investigated this matter. The case is being litigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Weyer.
This year’s National Health Care Fraud Takedown represents the greatest whole-of-government effort to combat health care fraud in our Nation’s history,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Under the decisive leadership of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, and our law enforcement partners, this administration has ushered in a new era of enforcement that will safeguard taxpayer dollars.”The complaint announced by U.S. Attorney Parsons is part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. The Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: charges in 56 federal districts and involving 45 U.S. states and territories, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a $1.2 billion telemedicine scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; seize over $182 million in cash, houses, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and provide full spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.
This coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:
- Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers.
- 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers.
- Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million.
- 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.
The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Section’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Arizona, Central District of California, Eastern District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nevada, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of Nex Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Western District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Eastern District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Inidiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Descriptions of each case involved in the National Health Care Fraud Takedown are available on the Department’s website: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/national-health-care-fraud-takedown-results-455-defendants-charged-connection-over-65.
A civil complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven liable in a court of law.
Rosebud Man and Woman Sentenced to 3 Decades in Federal Prison for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Rosebud, South Dakota man and a Parmelee, South Dakota woman, following their convictions for Second Degree Murder.
Dillion Millard, age 27, pleaded guilty on August 13, 2025. On August 10, 2026, he was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Charmaine Medicine, age 31, pleaded guilty on May 12, 2026. On August 10, 2026, she was also sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Millard and Medicine were indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024. The convictions stem from an incident that occurred July 2019, in Todd County, South Dakota, in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. In the early morning hours of July 9, 2019, Millard and Medicine picked up the victim, a 15-year-old male, from his residence, and told him they were going to go drink alcoholic beverages together. They drove him to a nearby park and walked to a secluded area where they sat and drank. The victim became intoxicated, at which point Millard began to strangle the victim with his hands. When the victim stopped struggling, Millard dragged his lifeless body over to a tree and used his belt to tie the victim to a branch by his neck. Medicine and Millard then departed the scene. A few hours later, however, they returned, poured oil on the victim’s body and lit him on fire in an effort to destroy the evidence of their malicious and evil deed. The victim’s body was discovered by hikers on the afternoon of July 10, 2019. The case remained under active investigation until May 2024, when Millard confessed to his and Medicine’s actions.
“I am so saddened and disheartened by the inhumanity of this terrible crime,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “But I’m relieved for the victim’s family that they finally have some answers and can know that a measure of justice has been achieved,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Millard and Medicine were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at the conclusion of their individual sentencing hearings.Rapid City Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on August 3, 2026.
Jackson Moss, 38, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $15,095 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture of several cell phones was also ordered.
Moss was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 21, 2026.
Between June and December 2024, Moss used Kik, an internet-based chat application and cloud service, to search for, download, and view sexually explicit visual depictions of child pornography to his cellular phone. Moss’s online conduct involving child pornography was so prevalent that the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received at least 12 CyberTips involving multiple files associated with each CyberTip, all relating to his consumption of child pornography. Investigators found 649 images and 185 videos of child pornography on his phone. The images and videos depicted minors who were unmistakably under the age of 18 and were engaged in sexually explicit conduct and being sexually abused.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Moss was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Porcupine Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Five Charges of Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of five charges of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on August 3, 2026.
Gary Pourier, 59, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for each count, followed by five years of supervised release. Each sentence was ordered to run concurrently. Further, Pourier was ordered to pay a $500 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and a $5,000 special assessment pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.
Pourier was initially indicted for Abusive Sexual Contact by a federal grand jury in August 2024. After his initial indictment, additional charges were added as two other victims came forward alleging abuse at the hands of the defendant. Four victims testified during the three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota, beginning April 16, 2026. The jury found Pourier guilty of all counts.
In July of 2024, Pourier was at the Common Cents Convenience Store near Porcupine when he made contact with a 10-year-old female. Pourier sexually fondled the young girl inside the store. After the victim left the store, she reported to a guardian what had happened. Officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, responded to the scene and the child’s home. During its investigation, the FBI learned of additional victims.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Pourier was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Manderson Man Sentenced to over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Manderson, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026.
Christopher Calvin Bald Eagle, 71, was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bald Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 4, 2026.
Bald Eagle was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in September 1992 in United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. Bald Eagle was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison. Based on the conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender for life under the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In December 2023, Bald Eagle admitted to a supervised release violation for not updating his address within three business days of a change in his residence. He was released from custody in April 2024. Upon his release from custody, however, Bald Eagle did not update his address as required by law. Bald Eagle was charged for violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, again, and eventually arrested.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Bald Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kenel Man Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Assault of a Romantic PartnerRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Kenel, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Dating Partner. The sentencing took place on August 3, 2026.
Delyle Ambrose Left Hand, age 55, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Left Hand was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 15, 2026.
On September 14, 2023, Left Hand quarreled with his girlfriend at his ranch in rural Kenel, South Dakota, in the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. Left Hand punched, kicked, and bit her, resulting in extensive bruising to her face, shoulders and legs. Left Hand later failed to appear for his jury trial for this conduct in July 2025.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Left Hand was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
Former Sisseton-Wahpeton Housing Officials Plead Guilty to EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Eric Shepherd, age 53, of Wilmot, South Dakota, and Olivia Locke, age 60, of Sisseton, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on August 3, 2026, and pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Theft from a Program Receiving Federal Funds.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years in custody, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Shepherd was the executive director of the Sisseton Wahpeton Housing Authority (SWHA) between September 2019 and July 2025. Locke was the chief financial officer. During that time, Locke and Shepherd issued and cashed over $3,500,000 in unauthorized SWHA checks for their personal enrichment.
“Stealing from the government is stealing from the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Our federal prosecutors are dedicated to ensuring that criminals like these are caught and sentenced to federal prison, so it becomes abundantly clear that crime does not pay.”
“Olivia Locke and Eric Shepherd abused their positions of trust by engaging in multiple fraud schemes and stealing more than $3.5 million in federal funds intended to serve some of the community’s most vulnerable residents,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “This is not an isolated act of misconduct but a deliberate effort that diverted millions of dollars in critical resources designed to assist those most in need. HUD OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and hold accountable individuals who misuse public funds and exploit positions of trust for personal gain.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for November 9, 2026. The defendants were detained pending sentencing.
Kenel Man Found Guilty by a Federal Jury of Felony Domestic Assault by StrangulationRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Cody Ben Zephier, age 21, of Kenel, South Dakota, of Assault of a Dating Partner by Strangulation, Assault of a Dating Partner Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury, and Assault by Striking, Beating and Wounding following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on July 29, 2026.
Cumulatively, these convictions are punishable by up to 16 years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, $600,000 in fines and a mandatory $225 special assessment. Restitution may also be ordered.
Zephier was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025.
During the early morning hours of June 27, 2025, Zephier and his live-in girlfriend quarreled in their Kenel, South Dakota, home, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. When Zephier began walking away, his girlfriend slapped him across the back. Zephier responded by throwing her to the floor, punching her with “hammer fists,” kicking her, and choking her with his hands until she could not breathe. Zephier then called 911 because he could not stop himself from “smacking” his girlfriend – or her bleeding. The woman incurred two broken wrists and extensive bruising to her face and neck in the assault.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to state court.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian of Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Zephier was placed in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing.
Fort Thompson Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons, announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Fort Thompson man convicted of Second-Degree Murder. The sentencing took place on July 29, 2026.
Jami Johnson, Jr., age 19, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 30, 2026.
During the early morning hours of August 11, 2025, a group of young adults attended an outdoor gathering near Lower Brule, South Dakota. Among those in attendance were Jami Johnson and the victims. An argument broke out and Johnson and another person – who later took his own life - produced firearms and fired in the direction of victim 1, striking him in the head and killing him instantly. A second victim, who was not involved in the argument, was struck in the neck and mortally wounded. The offense occurred in the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation.
“This was a horrifying and senseless act of violence that has shaken the community,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Two bright young lives were taken, and no courtroom outcome can restore what was stolen from these families. We share their grief and the hollow space that remains. This sentence cannot heal those wounds, but it is our hope that it may offer them some measure of justice and, in time, a measure of peace.”
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a
federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be
prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of victims and their families despite the passage of time.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Great Plains Troy R. Morley and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Johnson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Faith, South Dakota Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for First-Degree BurglaryRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Faith, South Dakota, man convicted of First-Degree Burglary. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026.
Dalton Hump, age 34, was sentenced to one year and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hump was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He was found guilty following a two-day trial in April of 2026.
The evidence presented at trial established that on the evening of July 10, 2024, Hump unlawfully entered a residence in Ziebach County within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. He assaulted two individuals inside the residence before being forced outside.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
Hump was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing a MinorRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026.
Christofer Sand, age 28, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Sand was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on August 27, 2026.
The conviction stems from Sand having sexual intercourse with a minor child in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, in the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. The crime occurred in March 2025, and, at the time, Sand was 27 years old and the victim was 13 years old.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Sand was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Sioux FallsRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026.
Jannelle Olson, 47, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Olson was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in October 2025. She pleaded guilty on May 4, 2026.
The investigation in this matter revealed that Olson’s co-conspirator transported methamphetamine from Omaha to Sioux Falls to have it redistributed there. Olson obtained methamphetamine from her co-conspirator on multiple occasions and lined up customers for him to sell to. On July 31, 2025, investigators met Olson and her co-conspirator after they tracked a phone moving from Omaha to Sioux Falls. They caught Olson with approximately two pounds of methamphetamine in her vehicle and found an additional two pounds of methamphetamine in her co-conspirator’s vehicle. In total, investigators determined Olson was responsible for distributing approximately seven pounds of methamphetamine during her involvement in the conspiracy.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Olson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Sioux Falls AreaRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026.
Kourtney Lang, 33, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Lang was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025. She pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.
Lang was part of the Matthew Shade drug trafficking organization that obtained methamphetamine and fentanyl in Arizona and then distributed the drugs in South Dakota. Lang’s co-conspirators worked to get the methamphetamine to South Dakota through the mail and also by car. Once the methamphetamine was in South Dakota, Lang assisted her co-conspirators by working to distribute it to others and by collecting drug debts. In total, investigators believe that Lang was involved with distributing over eight pounds of methamphetamine throughout her involvement with the conspiracy.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Lang was ordered to self-surrender to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on August 17, 2026.
Mission Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota man convicted of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026.
Tevin Thin Elk, Sr., age 29, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Thin Elk was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 27, 2026.
The conviction stems from an incident on April 5, 2025, when Thin Elk, who was on supervised release for his prior federal conviction for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm, was encountered in a rural area in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Law enforcement had been called to the area due to neighbors hearing multiple gunshots. Law enforcement encountered Thin Elk, who was intoxicated. Officers observed numerous spent shotgun shells and open alcohol containers and recovered a semi-automatic shotgun nearby.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Thin Elk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 23, 2026.
Courtney Richmond, 49, was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Richmond was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in November of 2024. He was found guilty following a 4-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls. The verdict was returned on April 10, 2026.
Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations started investigating Richmond late in 2022 and the DEA started looking into him in the Fall of 2023. Investigators discovered that Richmond was sourcing methamphetamine to at least one other person who was then reselling it to others. They observed text and Facebook messages between the two that confirmed their drug-related dealings. Eventually, investigators obtained warrants for Richmond’s person, residences, and vehicles. On December 14, 2023, investigators stopped Richmond in a vehicle that had his company’s BBQ food truck logo on the side. They searched the vehicle and found approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded pistol. They then searched his home and found an additional 216 grams of methamphetamine and another loaded firearm. Richmond is not allowed to possess firearms due to four prior felony convictions from the state of Minnesota. The investigation into Richmond and his associates resulted in the seizure of approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Brookings Police Department, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Richmond was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to over 8 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on July 24, 2026.
Parker Behrns, 27, was sentenced to eight years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $6,095 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture was also ordered.
Behrns was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026.
Between September 2022 and July 2024, Behrns used his cellular phone and the internet-based application Discord, to search for and receive images and video files containing sexually explicit visual depictions of minors. In some instances, Behrns posed as a minor female to request child pornography from other Discord users.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Peterman prosecuted the case.
Behrns was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, convicted of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on July 24, 2026.
Kyle Beck, age 23, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Beck was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. He was convicted following a court trial on May 12, 2026.
At his trial, the evidence established that on May 28, 2023, Beck messaged a 15-year-old girl via Instagram and requested sexually explicit photographs of her. Beck was subsequently interviewed and admitted to his conduct.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Beck was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Couple Indicted for Fraud, Larceny, and Embezzlement from the Oglala Sioux TribeRead the Press Release
Rapid City - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Pine Ridge married couple on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 14 counts of Wire Fraud, one count of Larceny, and one count of Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.
Patrick Fire Thunder and Tracie Renay Gallego, both 51, were indicted in July 2026. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Haigh and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 assessment on each count to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture and restitution may also be ordered.
Between November 2022 and November 2024, at Pine Ridge, Fire Thunder and Gallego, both enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST), acted together to obtain and embezzle checks from OST intended to be paid to Emergency Youth Shelter (EYS) vendors or reimbursement checks from the State of South Dakota to OST for social services provided to youth at the EYS. Gallego was the Administrative Assistant for the EYS and responsible for submitting vouchers to OST for payment to the EYS vendors. After submitting the vouchers and obtaining OST checks for payment to the EYS vendors, Fire Thunder and Gallego deposited the checks into Fire Thunder’s personal bank account and then transferred the money to various other accounts and used the money for their own personal benefit.
“Our office is committed to uncovering government fraud at every level and prosecuting those who commit it,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “It’s outrageous that enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe would be stealing government funds meant to fund essential services for tribal youth. The people deserve better. Our prosecutors look forward to proving these charges in federal court and holding these defendants responsible for their shameless theft.”
“As alleged in this case, this scheme to divert scarce funds for the schemers’ personal use instead of for the intended use -- to support vulnerable youth in the Pine Ridge Indian reservation -- represents a serious breach of trust and an abuse of safety net programs designed to serve individuals in genuine need,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Protecting federally funded social service programs — including those supporting tribal communities — and the people served by them is central to HHS‑OIG’s mission. Working closely with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate allegations of fraud to ensure that those who attempt to exploit public resources for personal gain are held accountable.”
The charges are merely accusations and Fire Thunder and Gallego are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Fire Thunder and Gallego were released pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Multi-Agency Team Recognized for Outstanding Overdose Investigative Effort of the YearRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that the multi-agency team involved in the investigation and prosecution of United States v. Curtis Cummings, et al., has been selected by the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) as the Outstanding Overdose Investigative Effort of the Year. The lead prosecutor, Assistant United States Attorney Meghan Dilges, and lead investigator, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Patrick Rose, were presented the award by Dan Neill, Executive Director, Midwest HIDTA, Office of National Drug Control Policy, during a ceremony at the Public Safety Building in Rapid City on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
“This was an incredible investigative effort that delivered justice for the victims of this horrible crime and improved public safety by preventing further deaths that would have resulted from the illegal activities of these defendants,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “I could not be more proud of this law enforcement team and I am so grateful their outstanding efforts have been recognized and honored with this award.”
“Midwest HIDTA, in partnership with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), is proud to support our federal, state, local, Tribal, and prosecutorial partners in identifying, disrupting, and dismantling criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable communities. While no investigation can undo the tragic loss of life in this case,
we recognize the dedication and professionalism of the investigators, analysts, prosecutors, and support personnel whose tireless efforts helped bring those responsible to justice,” said Executive Director, Midwest HIDTA, Office of Drug Control Policy Dan Neill.
In late April 2022, a young man was found deceased in the driver’s seat of his vehicle at a gas station in Rapid City, South Dakota. On the center console of his vehicle were two aluminum foil pieces with remnants of a partially melted blue-green pill. An autopsy indicated the victim died from fentanyl toxicity. The investigation was led by the South Dakota Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), which includes the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard.
Utilizing a variety of investigative techniques – including digital forensics, surveillance video, social media records, GPS information, and witness interviews – UNET identified four individuals – Curtis Cummings, Katey McGruder, Christina Sanchez, and Wyatt Nygaard – who were involved in the distribution of fentanyl to the victim.
The investigation revealed that Cummings and his wife, McGruder, obtained large amounts of fentanyl from a source of supply in Colorado on a weekly basis. They would then bring the fentanyl back to their home in Rapid City, where it was further distributed by Sanchez and other co-conspirators. On April 26, 2022, Cummings and McGruder provided fentanyl to Sanchez, who provided the fentanyl to Nygaard. Nygaard then provided the fentanyl to the victim, who overdosed and died within minutes of ingesting the fentanyl.
In 2023, Cummings, McGruder, Sanchez, and Nygaard were indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death.
Sanchez, McGruder, and Nygaard each pleaded guilty to Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death. On January 24, 2024, Nygaard was sentenced to 23 years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On August 9, 2024, Sanchez and McGruder were each sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Cummings was convicted following a jury trial of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death. On January 24, 2025, he was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Comprised of 73 designated counties in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Illinois, the Midwest HIDTA is designed to disrupt the market for illegal drugs throughout the “heartland” of America by identifying, targeting, and dismantling the most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations operating in the Midwest. Its goal is to enhance and facilitate the coordination of regional drug-control efforts among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies—through information and intelligence sharing, cooperative investigations, and joint operations—to reduce drug trafficking and its deadly consequences across the region. The Midwest HIDTA currently supports 61 different initiatives across seven states, including 44 drug task forces, six domestic highway interdiction programs, and five intelligence initiatives.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The sentencing took place on July 20, 2026.
Ricky Wayne Hettich, Jr., age 26, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hettich was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 16, 2026.
Around Christmas 2024, Hettich picked up a 15-year-old girl by the waist against her will. He laid her down on his bed in his father’s basement in McLaughlin, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. Hettich took off the minor’s clothes, then his own, and had sexual intercourse with her. Whenever the girl tried to escape, Hettich forced her back down. The intercourse resulted in pregnancy. Investigators learned Hettich also had sexual intercourse with the girl on a prior occasion.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Hettich was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
Fort Thompson Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Judge Eric Schulte, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a man from Fort Thompson, South Dakota, convicted of Sexual Assault of a Minor. The sentencing took place on July 13, 2026.
Elijah Brown Thunder, age 29, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,444.70 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Brown Thunder was indicted in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 13, 2026.
In November, 2017 Brown Thunder engaged in a sexual act with a young victim between the age of 12 and 16. Brown Thunder committed multiple acts of sexual abuse upon her, over an extended period. The sexual abuse occurred in the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of victims and their families despite the passage of time.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Great Plains Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Brown Thunder was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Eagle Butte, South Dakota, convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on July 13, 2026.
Trevin Antonio, age 29, was sentenced to three years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Antonio was indicted in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026.
The conviction stems from Antonio assaulting a woman with a weapon in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation, on July 31, 2025. The victim suffered severe lacerations to her face that required hospitalization.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Antonio was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child. The sentencing took place on July 14, 2026.
Shane Bruguier, age 47, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bruguier was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He was found guilty following a three-day jury trial in April of 2026.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred sometime between January 2015 and November 2015 in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. The evidence presented at trial established that the 8-year-old victim was asleep in her bed and awoke to find that Bruguier had pulled her underwear down and was rubbing her vagina with his hand. The victim pushed Bruguier away and told him to get out of her room. The abuse was disclosed during a forensic interview in 2021.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to state court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Bruguier was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Dupree Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Dupree, South Dakota, convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on July 13, 2026.
Gradyn Blue Arm, age 27, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Blue Arm was indicted in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on June 3, 2025, within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. After being asked to leave a residence in Dupree, South Dakota, Blue Arm returned to the location armed with knives. Blue Arm argued with the victim and others in the front yard before walking away from the residence. The victim and two other individuals followed Blue Arm. Soon thereafter, Blue Arm stabbed the victim in the abdomen with a knife, which resulted in the victim’s death.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to state court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Blue Arm was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pierre Man and Woman Sentenced to Lengthy Terms in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Pierre, South Dakota man and woman in a case charging Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.
Brandon Hitt, age 41, and Luticia Falcon, age 41, were indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025.
On March 19, 2026, Falcon pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. On June 15, 2026, she was sentenced to eight years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crimes Victim Fund.
On June 15, 2026, Hitt pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. On July 20, 2026, he was sentenced to 26 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The court also ordered forfeiture of numerous firearms.
These convictions stemmed from an extensive drug distribution conspiracy beginning in June 2024 and continuing until October 2025. Hitt was the source of supply for several individuals in the Pierre and Rapid City, South Dakota, areas. He obtained his drugs from individuals in Texas. Hitt would acquire up to five kilograms of methamphetamine at a time. Falcon would help transport the methamphetamine from Texas to South Dakota where she and others would distribute it on behalf of Hitt. As part of the conspiracy, Hitt, who is a convicted felon, would routinely carry firearms. The conspiracy involved between 15 and 45 kilograms of methamphetamine. Five other co-defendants are currently set for trial on November 3, 2026.
“These substantial prison sentences removing these dangerous drug dealers from our community are the result of the incredible cooperation, teamwork and hard work by all levels of law enforcement in our state,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “That work continues until all of our communities are safe.”
“We are removing illegal drugs from our communities thanks to strong partnerships among law enforcement at every level. We share a common goal: keeping our citizens safe,” said South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the FBI Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Pierre Police Department, the Hughes County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Following their sentencing hearings, both Falcon and Hitt were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Fort Thompson Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Firing a Gun at Other PersonsRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Fort Thompson man convicted of Using and Carrying a Firearm During and Relation to a Crime of Violence. The sentencing took place on July 20, 2026.
Tigh Bagola, age 42, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bagola was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in July 2023 in the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation. On the afternoon of July 5, 2023, Bagola was walking in Ft. Thompson, South Dakota, when he encountered the victims. Bagola argued with the victims and then brandished a handgun at them. Bagola fired the gun in the victims’ direction, and then fled the scene.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services – Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Bagola was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Arizona Man Sentenced to over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring with Others to Distribute Fentanyl in Western South DakotaRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 20, 2026.
John Parrado, 38, was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Parrado was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 5, 2026.
In 2025, Parrado conspired with other people to obtain fentanyl and distribute it in South Dakota. He received much of his supply from out of state through the U.S. mail. Ultimately, Parrado was personally involved in the distribution of 400 grams of the drug in the state.
“This is another step forward in eliminating these deadly substances from our state,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “My deepest thanks go out to the strong detective work of the Rapid City Police, the DEA, ATF, and Postal Inspection Service, working together to reel in this fentanyl dealer and put him away.”
This case was investigated by the Rapid City Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Peterson prosecuted the case.
Parrado was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.
Federal, State, Local, and Tribal Law Enforcement Conduct “Operation Black Book” to Take Down Multi-State Cocaine Trafficking Organization as Part of Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY, SD – United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced at a joint press conference held today in Rapid City, South Dakota, that a multi-agency law enforcement operation has resulted in the arrest of 14 individuals located throughout the Pine Ridge Reservation, Rapid City, and Box Elder, South Dakota, as well as in Colorado, as part of Operation Take Back America, with the goal of protecting our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Operation Black Book is a federal investigation into a multi-state cocaine trafficking organization responsible for importing kilograms of cocaine into western South Dakota, including to communities within the Pine Ridge Reservation. Through the investigation, law enforcement has thus far seized over 37 firearms, more than $61,000, and approximately five kilograms of cocaine intended for distribution in South Dakota.
The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI Badlands Safe Trails Task Force (FBI Task Force) in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). The South Dakota National Guard Counter Drug Unit, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and Rapid City Police Department also assisted in the investigation. The FBI Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs—Division of Drug Enforcement, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.
The first phase of the operation occurred in Colorado on June 16, 2026, resulting in the arrest of three individuals responsible for supplying the South Dakota drug trafficking organization with cocaine. The second phase of the operation began in the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 21, 2026, and continued until the afternoon. By the end of the operation, law enforcement officers arrested 14 targeted fugitives.
The arrestees have all been federally indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Some members of the drug trafficking organization face additional federal charges related to financial crimes and firearms offenses for their conduct in furtherance of the drug trafficking organization. The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may be considered. An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“Today this FBI announced the results of Operation Black Book, with 14 arrests of drug trafficking organization members operating near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Southwest South Dakota,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These were subjects allegedly flooding Pine Ridge and surrounding Indian Country with deadly narcotics going unchecked for years - and now they’ll face justice thanks to this sweeping investigation with partners. This op is an example of how this FBI is committing never before seen resources to our Indian Country partners who have been wrongly forgotten for decades. With the launch of Operation Steadfast Promise in April, this FBI’s first of its kind durational campaign to crush violent crime on Tribal Lands, the FBI now has over 400 agents/staff dedicated to working Indian Country, 3 more Safe Trails Task Forces for a total of 29 – all representing the FBI's largest ever commitment, partnering with 575 federally recognized tribes in America. These communities deserve to be remembered and under this FBI, they will be.”
“Operation Black Book is the latest chapter in our mission to carry out this Administration’s directive to completely dismantle and eliminate drug trafficking organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “This complex and skillfully executed operation represents law enforcement at its finest.”
“Operation Black Book is just one piece of the FBI’s total commitment to tribal communities under this year’s surge of resources to tribal lands called Operation Steadfast Promise,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “Our agents and task forces are in the community and on tribal lands every day working to protect the public from gang members, drug traffickers, and transnational organized crime. Investigations like this prove that our partnerships with state, local, and tribal law enforcement are paying off for public safety.”
“Drug trafficking organizations exist to make money. IRS-Criminal Investigation exists to follow the money, and we’re proud to use that expertise to support our law enforcement partners in a joint effort to disrupt and dismantle dangerous drug activity,” said IRS-CI St. Louis Field Office Special Agent in Charge William Steenson.
“The DEA will go wherever an investigation takes us, be that a big city or small village, to remove the threatening individuals determined to profit off of the sale of deadly poisons,” DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “Today’s operation shows what can be accomplished when law enforcement partners work side-by-side on a cause that benefits our communities.”
“These arrests are the result of a strong partnership between law enforcement at the federal, state, tribal and local levels. Together we are taking illegal drugs out of our communities and making our streets safer,” said South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley.
“The Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement is grateful for the outstanding collaboration demonstrated throughout this investigation. The partnership between our agents, the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force, the FBI, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, DEA, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe was essential to achieving these results. Our collective efforts reflect a shared commitment to protecting Indian Country and ensuring the safety and well‑being of our communities,” said Deputy Associate Director Tom Atkinson.The following is a list of the defendants arrested in connection with Operation Black Book:
- Wuttichai Chankaeo – 32 years old; Commerce City, Colorado
- Joseph Valdez – 49 years old; Westminster, Colorado
- Amber Bravo – 42 years old; Westminster, Colorado
- Zeno Rendon – 31 years old; Box Elder, South Dakota
- Deja Guthmiller – 23 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
- Mason Martin – 23 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
- Dylan Sanchez – 34 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
- Jarrian Ribitsch – 31 years old; Pine Ridge, South Dakota
- Laci Ribitsch – 32 years old; Pine Ridge, South Dakota
- Sara Clifford – 33 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
- Ryan Jones – 38 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
- Caleb Allard – 35 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
- Savannah Backward – 31 years old; Pine Ridge, South Dakota
- Evan Sanchez – 33 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The FBI’s Operation Steadfast Promise is a comprehensive surge of resources to address a wide range of violent crime threats including gangs and criminal enterprises, violent crimes against children, and fugitive apprehension cases while working to improve public safety in Tribal communities.
U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal Announce Results of Community Safety Sweep to Arrest Fugitives and Violent Offenders in Operation Repeat Offender ProjectRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons, United States Marshal Dan Satterlee, and Sioux Falls Chief of Police Jon Thum, along with representatives of other law enforcement agencies, held a joint press conference at the Sioux Falls Police Department on Thursday, July 16, 2026, to announce the overall impact of a local three-day Homeland Security Taskforce, Operation Repeat Offender Project.
Operation Repeat Offender Project was a collaborative federal, state, and local law enforcement operation in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area conducted the week of July 6, 2026, that targeted fugitives, parole absconders, gang members, and their associates. The operation resulted in the arrest of 35 individuals, 11 of whom received additional new felony state charges.
“With surgical precision, this successful joint operation, conducted by a team of dedicated law enforcement officers risking their lives, has removed dangerous fugitives from our community and returned them to where they belong—behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.
“These operations highlight the great work that goes on every day in South Dakota. Partnerships between federal, state, and local agencies are the backbone to South Dakota’s law enforcement efforts and continue to keep our communities as safe as possible,” said U.S. Marshal Satterlee. “Deputy U.S. Marshals and our task force partners carry out this dangerous work on a daily basis throughout the state and will continue to do so for a safer South Dakota.”
“The success of this three-day operation highlights the power of collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies,” said HSI St. Paul Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy. “By joining forces as a unified law enforcement community, we are able to deliver meaningful results and advance our shared mission of safeguarding the public. This operation is a clear demonstration of our unwavering commitment to public safety.”
“We continue to demonstrate within our community that we are strongest when collaborating together. This joint law-enforcement operation is another classic example of how effective we can be when we join forces. When law-enforcement works well together, it has a direct positive result to public safety within our communities, and I am incredibly proud of our combined effort,” said Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum.
Operation Results:35 targeted and collateral individuals arrested:
Of those arrested, 11 received new felony state charges. These charges include Possession of Controlled Substance, Weapons Possession, and Aggravated Eluding.
A total of 55 outstanding warrants cleared.
8 Parole Absconders Arrested.
- 2 firearms seized
- 34 grams of methamphetamine seized.
- 9.7 grams of fentanyl seized.
(close to 5,000 lethal doses of fentanyl).
Agencies that assisted with the Repeat Offender Project:
United States Attorney’s Office
U.S. Marshals Service
Homeland Security Investigations
Sioux Falls Police Department
South Dakota Highway Patrol
South Dakota Department of Corrections / Parole Services
Brandon Police Department
South Dakota Fusion Center
Beadle County Sheriff’s Office
Moody County Sheriff’s Office
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 14, 2026.
Anthony Little Hoop, age 36, was sentenced to 2 years and 4 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Little Hoop was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2026. He pleaded guilty on May 7, 2026.
Little Hoop was convicted of Sexual Abuse in United States District Court, District of South Dakota in September 2012. As a result of his conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or change in employment or student status. In November 2025, Little Hoop updated his sex offender registration to reflect that he was residing at a residence in Sioux Falls. Little Hoop left that residence in December 2025 and did not update his registration. An arrest warrant was issued, and on March 11, 2026, Little Hoop was arrested in Sioux Falls.
This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case.
Little Hoop was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.