District of South Dakota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. The sentencing took place on January 23, 2025.
Arlen Blackburn, 19, was sentenced to three 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.
Blackburn was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm by a federal grand jury in July 2024. He pleaded guilty on November 1, 2024.
In April 2024, Rapid City Police Department responded to a shots-fired report in town. Law enforcement located a vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle associated with the shots-fired report. The driver of the vehicle initially fled but later stopped and law enforcement discovered Arlen Blackburn inside as a passenger. Law enforcement learned that Arlen Blackburn had discharged a sawed-off shotgun earlier that day. The sawed-off shotgun barrel was far less eighteen inches in length. It is unlawful to possess an unregistered shotgun whose barrel is less than eighteen inches in length.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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.
Blackburn was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Michigan Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Clark Lake, Michigan, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on January 27, 2025.
Jamie Lee, age 40, was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Lee was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2024. She pleaded guilty on November 13, 2024.
Beginning around March 2023, Lee began obtaining fentanyl along with her boyfriend, Jacob Denker. They picked up fentanyl in Colorado and then brought it to South Dakota. In Rapid City, Lee and her boyfriend had sub-distributors who further distributed fentanyl throughout the Rapid City area and the Pine Ridge Reservation. This activity continued through September 2023. Overall, Lee and co-conspirators were responsible for bringing over 400 grams of fentanyl to the area. Jacob Denker was previously sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Co-defendant Eugene Giago is scheduled for trial on March 11, 2025.
This case was investigated by the FBI, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
Lee was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the sentencing.
Guatemala Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for 10 Years for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Guatemala man who resided in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on January 27, 2025.
Jorge Manuel Rodriguez-Marroquin, age 48, was sentenced to the mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and is required to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Rodriguez-Marroquin must register as a sex offender upon release from federal prison.
Rodriguez-Marroquin was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He pleaded guilty on November 12, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 9, 2024, when Rodriguez-Marroquin used Facebook to start a conversation with who he believed was a 15-year-old girl. He steered the conversation to sexual matters and enticed her to meet up with him for sexual activity. Unbeknownst to Rodriguez-Marroquin, the 15-year-old was an undercover law enforcement agent. Rodriguez-Marroquin was arrested when he showed up at the meet location.
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 Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
Rodriguez-Marroquin was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Box Elder Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Box Elder, South Dakota, man for Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on January 24, 2025.
Taylor Bloomgren, 23, was sentenced to five 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. Bloomgren must forfeit two Xboxes and four cellular phones. He will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
A federal grand jury indicted Bloomgren in February 2024. He pleaded guilty on November 8, 2024.
Between 2021 and 2023, Bloomgren used his cellular phone, computer, and Xboxes to play online games on Discord. Bloomgren used the platform to communicate with a minor female who was 11 years old when Bloomgren started chatting with her. Bloomgren’s communications with the child resulted in Bloomgren having virtual sex with her. Bloomgren also exchanged sexually explicit photographs and masturbation videos with the child.
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 Box Elder Police Department and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Bloomgren was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death.
Curtis Cummings, age 39, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, restitution, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Cummings was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023. He was found guilty following a three-day jury trial on November 7, 2024.
The conviction arose from a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl operating in Rapid City, South Dakota. Cummings and his wife, Katey McGruder, obtained large amounts of fentanyl from a source in Colorado on a weekly basis. They would bring the fentanyl back to their Rapid City home where it was further distributed by Christina Sanchez and other conspirators. On April 26, 2022, Cummings and McGruder provided fentanyl to Sanchez, who provided the fentanyl to Wyatt Nygaard. Nygaard then provided the fentanyl to the victim who overdosed and died in the parking lot of a convenience store within minutes of ingesting the fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET). UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan Dilges and Edward Tarbay prosecuted the case. Nygaard was previously sentenced to over 23 years in federal prison. McGruder and Sanchez were previously sentenced to 20 years each of federal imprisonment.
Cummings was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing.
North Dakota Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for 15 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and Tampering with a WitnessRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Bismarck, North Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Tampering with a Witness. The sentencing took place on January 24, 2025.
Henry Damon Smith, Jr., 41, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release on the firearm charge, and three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release on the tampering charge. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently. Smith was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Smith was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in December 2023. He pleaded guilty on November 4, 2024.
The case stemmed from a Rapid City Police Department officer finding Smith with a firearm in Rapid City. Smith is federally prohibited from owning and possessing firearms because he has previous felony convictions, including crimes of domestic violence and assault on law enforcement. After being arrested, Smith attempted to avoid the charges by convincing a witness to claim responsibility for the firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Smith was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Martin Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Funds from a Tribal OrganizationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Martin, South Dakota, woman convicted of Larceny. The sentencing took place on January 24, 2025.
Madonna Peterson, age 59, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $150,000 in restitution to Wild Horse Butte Community Development Corporation (WHB).
Peterson was indicted on one count of Larceny and one count of Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization by a federal grand jury in February 2023. She pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024.
Between 2014 and July 2021, while employed as the Chief Financial Officer for the Wild Horse Butte Community Development Corporation, Peterson wrote herself checks she was not entitled to and submitted fraudulent reimbursement requests to WHB for travel that she did not take and for supplies that she did not purchase. Peterson then used the stolen funds for personal gain, including gambling at various casinos.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Peterson was ordered to self-surrender on February 18, 2025, to begin serving her prison term.
Porcupine Man Found Guilty of Shooting Deaths of Girlfriend and Unborn BabyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted McKenzie Big Crow, age 20, of Porcupine, South Dakota, of Involuntary Manslaughter, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on January 23, 2025.
The convictions relating to the shooting deaths each carry a maximum penalty of eight years’ imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The firearm conviction carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
A federal grand jury indicted Big Crow in June of 2024 for Second Degree Murder, Unborn Victims of Violence Act, Discharge of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence, and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm.
On August 20, 2023, near Porcupine, Big Crow was illegally in possession of a Savage Arms Model 62, semiautomatic rifle. The barrel had been sawed off, and the defendant taped components of an Airsoft rifle to the gun to make it appear like an AK-47. Big Crow claimed he put the rifle in a backpack and that the gun discharged when he bumped the bag against a door. The gunshot struck 19-year-old Ashton Provost in the chest, killing her and her unborn child within minutes. The gun was later found hidden under Big Crow’s bed. On the day of the shooting, Big Crow had drugs in his system including marijuana, cocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has been set for April 25, 2025. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Three Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Their Roles in a Counterfeit Money SchemeRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced three South Dakota men convicted of crimes related to a counterfeit currency operation. The sentencings took place on January 13, 2025.
Sonny Chao, age 36, of Oacoma, South Dakota, was sentenced to seven and a half 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.
Anthony Martinez, age 24, of Chamberlain, South Dakota, was sentenced to one month in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Gino Martinez, age 21, of Chamberlain, South Dakota, was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
All three defendants were ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the victims of this matter. The restitution was ordered to be paid jointly and severally.
The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024. Chao pleaded guilty to Possession of Electronic Image for Counterfeiting Obligations or Securities and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm on October 16, 2024. Anthony Martinez pleaded guilty to two counts of Passing Counterfeit U.S. Currency on October 17, 2024. Gino Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of Passing Counterfeit U.S. Currency on October 15, 2024.
These convictions stemmed from Chao using electronic images on his computer to create counterfeit $100.00 Federal Reserve Notes that were passed at various businesses throughout central South Dakota between November 28, 2023, and March 17, 2024. Chao would soak genuine $1.00 Federal Reserve Notes in a solution that removed the ink and print the image of a $100.00 Federal Reserve Note on the blank genuine paper. Anthony and Gino Martinez assisted Chao by passing the counterfeit currency at a number of businesses. During the execution of a search warrant at Chao’s residence, law enforcement located two firearms in Chao’s bed. Chao was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota Fusion Center, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Chamberlain Police Department, Lyman County Sheriff’s Office, Brule County Sheriff’s Office, Jerauld County Sheriff’s Office, Winner Police Department, Mitchell Police Department, and the Pierre Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Chao and Anthony Martinez were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and KidnappingRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Kidnapping. The sentencing took place on January 21, 2025.
Canku Martinez, age 22, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Martinez was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024. He was found guilty following a four-day jury trial in October of 2024.
In the early morning hours of October 29, 2023, Martinez agreed to give the juvenile victim a ride home from a party near Rosebud, South Dakota. Rather than give her a ride home, however, Martinez drove the victim to a secluded area outside of Rosebud and made sexual advances. When the victim rejected his advances, Martinez produced a knife. Martinez then forced the victim to engage in sexual activity. Martinez subsequently dropped the victim off at her residence and told her not to tell anyone what he had done. Martinez left the local area shortly thereafter. The offenses occurred within the Rosebud Indian Reservation.
“Bringing this defendant to justice is the result of tremendous cooperation between federal and tribal law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Mr. Martinez engaged in a despicable course of conduct in this case and subjected the victim to unthinkable sexual violence. The sentence he received today reflects the seriousness of his crimes.”
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 Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the FBI. Senior Litigation Counsel Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Martinez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for 10 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. Circuit Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Benny Benson, age 22, was sentenced on January 3, 2025, to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Benson was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023, and pleaded guilty on October 16, 2024.
Benson’s conviction stemmed from his involvement in a large-scale fentanyl and cocaine distribution operation on the Pine Ridge Reservation. During the conspiracy Benson distributed over 900 grams of fentanyl and approximately 210 grams of cocaine on the Pine Ridge Reservation. He was a supervisor of the conspiracy and possessed a firearm during his involvement.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Benson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing.
Kyle Man Indicted for Assault and Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Kyle, South Dakota, man for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner, Sexual Abuse, and Aggravated Sexual Abuse.
Vinnie Sonny Makes Good, age 36, was indicted in December 2024. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on January 8, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Makes Good assaulting his intimate dating partner on three sperate occasions between March 23 and October 12, 2023. These assaults resulted in the victim sustaining serious bodily injury. On February 4, 2024, Makes Good sexually assaulted a different female who was incapable of declining participation in or engaging in sexual intercourse.
The charges are merely accusations and Makes Good is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen is prosecuting the case.
Makes Good was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for March 18, 2025.
Guatemala Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for over 10 Years for Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Sex Trafficking of a ChildRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol has sentenced a Guatemala man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet and Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child. The charge of attempted enticement carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Gerber David Santos-Gonzalez, age 26, was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He was found guilty following a jury trial in October 2024.
On January 13, 2025, Santos-Gonzalez was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200. Santos-Gonzalez is required to register as a sex offender once released from federal prison.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 12, 2024, when Santos-Gonzalez used Facebook and Facebook Messenger to convince a 15-year-old girl to have sex with him in exchange for $100. The 15-year-old girl was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Santos-Gonzalez was arrested when he attempted to meet up with the girl in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
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 Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Police Department, Watertown Police Department, Tea Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
Santos-Gonzalez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Volga Man Sentenced for Violation of Bald and Golden Eagle Protection ActRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Volga, South Dakota, man convicted of a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The sentencing took place on January 13, 2025.
Joe Hofer, age 52, was sentenced to one year of federal probation, a $1,200 fine, and ordered to pay a $25 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hofer was indicted for a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act by a federal grand jury in July 2024. He pleaded guilty on October 4, 2024.
Hofer is the Farm Boss for the Cambridge Hutterian Brethren (CHB) in Lake County, South Dakota. In November 2023, Hofer used CHB farm equipment to take down tress on property owned by CHB. One of the trees Hofer took down contained an active eagle nest, destroying the nest. Hofer did not have a permit to take down the eagle’s nest which is protected under federal law.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Two People Federally Charged with Stealing Millions of Dollars from the Oglala Sioux TribeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Porcupine, South Dakota, man and a Rushville, Nebraska, woman for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 22 counts of Wire Fraud, and seven counts of Money Laundering.
Patrick Ross, age 55, and Buffy Redfish, age 56, were indicted in December 2024. Ross appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollman on January 8, 2025, and Redfish appeared before Judge Wollman on January 13, 2025. Both pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $500,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund on each count. Restitution may also be ordered.
Between May 2017 and May 2024, while Redfish was working for the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO), she and Ross, working together, developed a scheme to defraud the Oglala Sioux Tribe by diverting TERO fee checks totaling more than $4.7 million belonging to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and depositing the checks into Ross’s bank account. Ross and Redfish then split the embezzled funds between themselves and used the funds for their own personal benefit, including buying homes and vehicles. Ross is a citizen of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Redfish is a citizen of the Gila Tribe in Arizona.
The charges are merely an accusation and Ross and Redfish are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Ross and Redfish were released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been scheduled for March 25, 2025.
St. Francis Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for over Five Years for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on January 13, 2025.
Clyde Chasing Hawk, a/k/a Clyde Clairmont, age 24, was sentenced to five 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. Chasing Hawk was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,000.
Chasing Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2023. He pleaded guilty on October 15, 2024.
Between April 2023 and November 2023, Chasing Hawk searched for and downloaded child pornography via the internet. He saved multiple images and videos of child pornography to his Google and Yahoo accounts and to his electronic devices. Law enforcement began investigating Chasing Hawk in June of 2023, based on CyberTips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which indicated Chasing Hawk was using his Google and Yahoo accounts to store child pornography. In November of 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Chasing Hawk’s residence in St. Francis, seizing multiple electronic devices that contained child pornography. Chasing Hawk will forfeit ownership of these devices to the United States.
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 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) – Office of Justice Services Missing and Murdered Unit, the BIA Division of Drug Enforcement, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Senior Litigation Counsel Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Chasing Hawk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial NumberRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number. The sentencing took place on January 13, 2025.
Todd Alan Peltier, 31, 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.
Peltier was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number by a federal grand jury in July 2024. He pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number in October 2024.
On May 23, 2024, detectives with the Sioux Falls Police Department observed Peltier enter a vehicle and drive to a casino on West 41st Street in Sioux Falls. At the time, Peltier was on parole and had an active warrant for his arrest. Detectives entered the casino and placed Peltier under arrest. A search incident to arrest revealed a bag of methamphetamine in Peltier’s pants pocket. Detectives completed a search of Peltier’s vehicle following his arrest and located a pistol bearing an obliterated serial number under the driver’s seat. Peltier later admitted to law enforcement that he knowingly possessed the firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Beau J. Blouin prosecuted the case.
Peltier was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Found Guilty of Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Jayden Debevec, age 29, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on Friday, January 10, 2025.
Debevec is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a possible maximum of life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine. After his release from prison, he will be placed on supervised release for a minimum term of five years and a possible maximum term of up to life. He must also pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Debevec was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023.
Debevec started a conversation with a person he believed was a 15-year-old girl on an online dating site. The conversation turned sexual and, using sometimes explicit language, he asked the 15-year-old girl to meet up hoping to have a sexual encounter with her. Debevec arrived at the meet location where he was arrested by law enforcement. Debevec had actually been chatting with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old girl.
This case was brought as part of an undercover chat operation designed to identify individuals in the community who are interested in having sex with minors. The case was also 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 Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Police Department, Watertown Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth E. Ebert-Webb and Beau Blouin prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Escaping from CustodyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schrier has sentenced a Worthington, Minnesota, man convicted of Escape from Custody. The sentencing took place on January 13, 2025.
Ray Rosalez, 41, was sentenced to to 17 months in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rosalez was indicted for Escape from Custody by a federal grand jury in February 2024. He pleaded guilty in November 2024.
In November 2022, Rosalez was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He was sentenced to four years and three months in custody. On January 28, 2024, Rosalez was in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and residing at a residential reentry center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, when he left the facility without permission. On May 30, 2024, members of the Sioux Falls Police Department Violent Crimes Unit located Rosalez in the Sioux Falls area and placed him under arrest.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Beau J. Blouin prosecuted the case.
Rosalez was immediately remanded to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the InternetRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on January 6, 2025.
Kalvin Michael Frankus, age 37, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Once released from federal prison, Frankus must register as a sex offender.
Frankus was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He pleaded guilty on October 16, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 10, 2024, when Frankus attempted to have a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old female, who turned out to be an undercover law enforcement officer posing as the teenager. Frankus drove to the agreed location and was arrested.
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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
Frankus was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Woman Sentenced to over 22 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Large Quantities of Methamphetamine in Western South DakotaRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Alisa See, age 39, was sentenced to 22 ½ years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
See was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2023 and pleaded guilty on October 25, 2024.
Between 2022 and 2023, See was part of a drug conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota. See worked with another co-conspirator to transport methamphetamine from California to western South Dakota. The two then distributed the methamphetamine to others for further redistribution.
“See was personally involved in the distribution of at least 30 pounds of methamphetamine in western South Dakota,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners at UNET for investigating and exposing this drug conspiracy, which permitted the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek a federal conviction and impactful sentence.”
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET.) UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
See was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting an Infant on the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on January 8, 2025.
Sinte White Butterfly, 25, was sentenced to 10 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.
White Butterfly was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on October 29, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from White Butterfly assaulting his infant daughter when she was between one and two months old, in August of 2024, fracturing numerous bones throughout her body and causing brain damage. In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Theeler stated the victim should have been able to count on White Butterfly as someone to protect her from harm, but instead he broke both of her legs, both of her arms, fractured nearly all of her ribs, and caused a skull fracture and a brain bleed, because he was intoxicated and lost his temper. Judge Theeler noted also that the facts of the case, coupled with White Butterfly’s history of violence, called for a strong need to protect the community.
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 Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
White Butterfly was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Oglala Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Killing an Infant in Automobile AccidentRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Oglala, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on January 6, 2025.
Sheldon Flute, 29, 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.
Flute was indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter and Felony Child Abuse and Neglect by a federal grand jury in November 2023. He pleaded guilty on October 7, 2024.
In August 2023, Flute drove while intoxicated with his 25-day-old infant son in the car. Flute rolled the car near Loneman, South Dakota, fatally injuring the infant, who was not properly strapped in a car seat. Flute then fled the scene with the injured infant and was eventually found by law enforcement at a residence in Red Shirt, South Dakota. The infant passed away from the injuries sustained in the crash.
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 Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Flute was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Summerset Woman Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Multistate Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Summerset, South Dakota, woman convicted of seven federal criminal offenses, including Enticement to Travel for Illegal Sexual Activity, Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity, Possession of Child Pornography, Obstruction of Justice, Tampering with a Witness, and Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor. The sentencing took place on January 3, 2025.
Emily Nicole Yeary, 26, was sentenced to a total of 40 years in federal prison, which will be followed by five years of supervised release. She will pay a $700 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $3,000 in restitution to one of her victims. Another victim’s family will make a later restitution request. Yeary will also pay restitution to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for forensic examinations of Yeary’s phone and other devices.
“This is among the most heinous cases of child exploitation our office has prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “The lengths to which Emily Yeary went to groom and then manipulate these young girls is reprehensible, and the use of these minor victims as pawns in a game of sexual abuse and terror is unforgivable. Yeary earned herself every month of today’s federal sentence. Let us all be grateful for the expertise of DCI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce and the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies throughout South Dakota and other jurisdictions. Law enforcement’s thorough investigation exposed Yeary’s criminal activity and allowed the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek justice in federal court.”
“I commend the State Trooper, the Division of Criminal Investigation, and South Dakota law enforcement for working with law enforcement across state lines to protect a young victim and hold a serious offender accountable. Human trafficking and its young victims remain a national concern that we unfortunately are not immune from in South Dakota,” said South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley.
In July of 2022, a federal grand jury charged Yeary with multiple crimes arising out of her criminal conduct with minors, including Attempted Exploitation of a Minor, Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity, Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity. The multistate investigation revealed Yeary offended against multiple victims, all of whom were minors from Mississippi, Kentucky, Florida, and Missouri. Yeary pleaded guilty to seven federal offenses on November 1, 2024.
On June 25, 2022, Yeary was arrested by the South Dakota Highway Patrol after being pulled over for speeding. Yeary had a 14-year-old female in her vehicle who had been reported missing from Mississippi. When Yeary bonded out of jail days later, she immediately contacted the same minor, spray painted her truck to avoid detection, and returned to Mississippi, where Yeary removed the child from her home a second time and took her to Kansas.
The investigation revealed that Yeary routinely presented herself to be an underage male named “Riley” and used Tik Tok and other cell phone apps to obtain access to minor females. Over the course of three years, Yeary traveled to multiple states to meet her victims and convince them to run away with her. Yeary crossed state lines intending to engage in sex with her victims, and then took her victims across state lines with similar intentions. Yeary sexually abused at least one of her victims, using a prosthetic penis, after giving alcohol to the minor. Yeary possessed sexually explicit photos of another minor female from Kentucky, with whom Yeary had an illegal sexual relationship with and to whom Yeary sent sexually explicit photos of a prosthetic penis. Yeary had another illegal relationship with a minor from Missouri, whom Yeary hid from police in a college fraternity house. After Yeary was arrested in Rapid City, and while she was in custody at the Pennington County Jail, she attempted to persuade one of her victims not to testify against her and used the same victim to try to persuade the Missouri victim to similarly not cooperate with the prosecution.
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.
The investigation was led by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Instrumental to the investigation were the Simpson County Mississippi Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Galena Kansas Police Department, Santa Rosa County Florida Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Rankin County Mississippi Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Knox County Missouri Sheriff’s Office, Kirksville Missouri Police Department, Hannibal Missouri Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspector’s Service, Cherokee County Kansas Sheriff’s Office, and the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Yeary was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
North Dakota Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm While a FelonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Bismarck, North Dakota, woman convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on January 3, 2025.
Summer Rae Trotter, 34, was sentenced to two 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.
Trotter was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in December 2023. She pleaded guilty on October 23, 2024.
The case stemmed from a Rapid City Police Department officer finding Trotter in possession of a firearm in Rapid City. Trotter is federally prohibited from owning and possessing firearms because she has previous felony convictions.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Trotter was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Manderson Man Indicted and Detained for Felony Murder and ArsonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Manderson, South Dakota, man for First Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, and Arson.
Reno Rondeau, age 51, was indicted in December of 2024. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on January 3, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The mandatory penalty upon conviction for first degree murder is life in custody and up to a $250,000 fine and a $100 payment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Rondeau intentionally setting fire to and burning his brother’s residence near Manderson in October 2024. When he set the fire, Rondeau knew the home was occupied by his brother and his brother’s friend, who perished in the fire. Rondeau’s brother suffered burn injuries but escaped the flames. The residence was completely destroyed in the fire.
The charges are merely accusations and Rondeau is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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.
The investigation is being conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox is prosecuting the case.
Rondeau was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Dupree Man Sentenced to Three Years’ Probation for Possessing a Rifle as a FelonRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Dupree, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on December 16, 2024.
William Vandervier, age 38, was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Vandervier was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 25, 2024.
On June 26, 2023, officers from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services responded to a residence in Dupree and observed Vandervier standing outside. He reached into a vehicle, grabbed a rifle, and refused to comply with orders from the officers to put down the rifle; instead, he continued holding it until his brother was able to take it away. Vandervier knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms based on prior felony convictions.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Ziebach County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Two Men Sentenced to Federal Prison in Connection with an Assault on the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced two Pine Ridge, South Dakota men. The sentencings took place on November 18, 2024.
Angelo Poor Bear, 40, was convicted of Misprision of a Felony and sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Jadan Poor Bear, 31, was convicted of Aiding and Abetting Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and sentenced to one year and eight 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. The Court ordered Jadan Poor Bear’s prison sentence to be served consecutively to a one year and eight months sentence he received for another assault he committed on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Angelo and Jadan Poor Bear were indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon by a federal grand jury in February 2024. Jadan pleaded guilty on August 27, 2024, and Angelo pleaded guilty on September 5, 2024.
The charges stemmed from Jadan beating the victim with a baseball bat, causing serious injuries, and Angelo taking steps to prevent law enforcement from discovering the crime. The assault occurred on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in January 2024.
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 Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Both men were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
St. Francis Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on December 16, 2024.
Martin Metcalf, age 52, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Metcalf was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 19, 2024.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on November 24, 2023, in Todd County, South Dakota, within the boundaries of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, Metcalf entered his girlfriend’s home and threatened to kill her and her children with an AR-15-style rifle. At one point, Metcalf struck his girlfriend on the arm with the rifle. One of the children called 911 while Metcalf was distracted, and law enforcement responded shortly thereafter. Metcalf will forfeit ownership of the firearm to the United States.
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 Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Senior Litigation Counsel Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Metcalf was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on December 16, 2024.
Asha Graystone, age 34, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, restitution in the amount of $6,000, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Upon release from federal prison, Graystone must register as a sex offender.
Graystone was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2023. She pleaded guilty on October 2, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between December 6, 2022, and January 10, 2023, when Graystone knowingly possessed digital files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Graystone has a prior state-level conviction for possession of child pornography out of Minnehaha County, South Dakota in 2020 for which she received a probation sentence.
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 Sioux Falls Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
Graystone was allowed to self-surrender to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on or before January 6, 2024.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Nearly Four Years for Possessing and Selling a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schrier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on December 16, 2024.
Jerad Wade Olson, 35, was sentenced to three years and 10 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 Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in May 2024. He pleaded guilty in September 2024.
In December 2023, Olson was identified by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as a seller of firearms in the Sioux Falls area. Olson is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous felony convictions. ATF conducted an operation targeting Olson on December 13, 2023, during which an agent established contact with Olson and posed as a buyer of firearms. Olson agreed to sell the agent a Walther 9mm pistol for $500. The agent met with Olson and completed the sale later that day at Olson’s residence in Vermillion.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Olson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 12 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Transportation of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on December 16, 2024.
Jeffrey Michael Dicus, age 40, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, restitution in the amount of $3,000, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Upon release from federal prison, Dicus must register as a sex offender.
Dicus was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 24, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between January 5, 2017, and February 8, 2023, when Dicus transported child pornography using his Dropbox account. Dicus created his Dropbox account in 2017 and used the online platform to trade images and videos of child pornography with other individuals. He was found in possession of over 5,000 videos and almost 20,000 images of child pornography. The videos and images contained depictions of victims as young as toddler-age engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
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 Sioux Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
Dicus was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 2 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Jeffrey Cooley, age 36, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Cooley was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024 and pleaded guilty on September 20, 2024.
Cooley was part of a drug conspiracy to distribute cocaine in South Dakota. He obtained the cocaine from a co-conspirator on multiple occasions and distributed it to others in South Dakota. The co-conspirator would send packages containing cocaine to Cooley’s home. In April 2023, law enforcement intercepted one of these packages, which contained approximately half a pound of cocaine. In total, the group moved multiple kilograms of cocaine during Cooley’s involvement.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team from Rapid City, and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Cooley was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.
Parmelee Man Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Fellow Jail Inmate and Possessing a Firearm While a FelonRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Parmelee, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on December 16, 2024.
Daryl John Plumman, age 32, was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Plumman was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023. He pleaded guilty on July 24, 2024.
The convictions stem from two different incidents that occurred in 2023 in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On April 21, 2023, law enforcement was looking for Plumman in Parmelee in connection with an alleged assault that happened earlier in the day. Plumman was located sitting in the driver seat of a parked vehicle, with a loaded 9 mm pistol under his seat. He was previously convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in federal court. As a result of this conviction, it is illegal for Plumman to possess firearms or ammunition.
On July 29, 2023, Plumman was an inmate at the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Adult Correctional Facility. On that day, Plumman and another man attacked a fellow inmate and assaulted him with a pencil.
The assault 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 and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kirk Albertson and Brian Murphy prosecuted the case.
Plumman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on December 11, 2024.
Charles Colhoff, age 36, was sentenced to nine 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.
Colhoff was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024. He pleaded guilty on October 3, 2024.
On November 4, 2023, Colhoff was involved in a shooting in Rapid City where he and another individual exchanged gunfire following an argument. Colhoff was uninjured but the other individual sustained two gunshot wounds and required surgery. Officers processing the scene located three 9mm cartridge casings related to the shooting. Colhoff was located by law enforcement on November 11, 2023, and found to be in possession of a Browning 9mm semi-automatic pistol believed to be the same pistol Colhoff used in the shooting. Ballistics testing was conducted, which confirmed the three 9mm casings recovered at the shooting scene were fired from the pistol recovered from Colhoff. Colhoff knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms based on a prior federal felony offense, which also involved a firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Colhoff was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The sentencing took place on December 5, 2024.
Charles Martinez-Olson, 33, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $21,000 in restitution to his victims, a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and forfeit his cellular phone. Martinez-Olson will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
A federal grand jury indicted Martinez-Olson in October 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 23, 2024.
Between December 2020 and March 2023, Martinez-Olson used Snapchat to entice two female minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct so Martinez-Olson could record videos of their conduct. Both girls were unmistakably under the age of 12. Martinez-Olson routinely masturbated during these Snapchat video chats while the two female minors exposed their genitals. His Snapchat account contained several videos of the same two girls engaging in sexually explicit conduct at his direction and encouragement. Martinez-Olson also possessed 54 images and 22 videos of other children being sexually abused, including a video of a disabled boy being sexually assaulted.
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 Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Martinez-Olson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier 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 December 6, 2024.
Derrick Patton, 42, was sentenced to serve four years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 in special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
A federal grand jury indicted Patton in May 2024. He pleaded guilty on September 16, 2024.
On March 13, 2024, the Rapid City Police Department were called to do a welfare check on Patton, who was reportedly passed out in a running vehicle for several hours. When officers woke Patton and identified him, they learned he had a felony arrest warrant and had absconded from parole. Patton was in possession of a Ruger 9mm pistol and ammunition. The gun had been reported stolen out of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Patton also possessed multiple baggies of methamphetamine. Patton is prohibited from possession firearms as a result of a prior felony conviction.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Rapid City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Patton was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Travis Orr, age 35, was sentenced to 19 ½ years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Orr was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2023 and pleaded guilty on September 6, 2024.
Between the Fall of 2021 and November of 2022, Orr was part of a drug conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota. Orr obtained the methamphetamine from co-conspirators on multiple occasions and distributed it to others in South Dakota. The group moved approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine during Orr’s involvement. Orr was also involved in trading firearms for methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Orr was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to over Six Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of five counts of Assault on a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on December 2, 2024.
Jeremy Crow, age 31, was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release on each count and ordered to pay a total of $500 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for the five convictions. The prison sentences and periods of supervision were ordered to be served concurrently.
Crow was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in February 2024. He was found guilty following a federal jury trial in Rapid City in September of 2024.
On December 22, 2023, a 911 call was placed by an unknown caller in a residential area of Pine Ridge. Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety was dispatched to the area. A lone tribal officer arrived on scene and observed Crow and an unknown female with apparent facial injuries. The officer made contact with Crow, who was observed to have uncontrollable movements and believed to be under the influence of a controlled substance. The officer attempted to detain Crow, who immediately resisted and assaulted the officer by pushing him backwards. Crow then jumped into the police vehicle and was going to drive off until the officer jumped in and pushed the ignition switch to off. Crow was forcibly removed from the police vehicle and actively resisted law enforcement’s efforts to detain him. After numerous commands, Crow was eventually tased, but the tasing did not entirely subdue Crow. A bystander noticed the officer was struggling to detain Crow and called for backup for the officer. Additional officers arrived on scene and during the process of handcuffing Crow, the original officer was bit on his right bicep. After securing Crow into the backseat of the patrol car, Crow spat on a female officer. Crow was eventually taken to jail. Two days later, on December 24, 2023, a corrections officer attempted to provide food and a drink to Crow. When the cell door opened, Crow rushed through the door forcing his way out. Crow resisted attempts by the corrections officers to capture him and bit two corrections officers on their hands.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Crow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mahto Man Found Not Guilty of AssaultRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Mahto, South Dakota, man was acquitted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury following a three-day federal jury trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota, on December 4, 2024.
Raymond Webb, age 42, was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2023.
The charges related to an alleged incident that occurred on September 17, 2023, in rural Mahto, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock 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 serious crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Corson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case.
Spearfish Police Officer Recognized with Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS — Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. Among the 13 nationwide recipients was Officer Reece Walno of the Spearfish Police Department in Spearfish, South Dakota.
This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety.
“Community policing is essential to building trust and ensuring public safety,” said Attorney General Garland. “These officers have gone above and beyond their duty to foster partnerships with the communities they serve. Their work is an inspiration to us all and a reminder of the profound impact law enforcement can have on individuals, neighborhoods, and society.”
During the course of 2023, Officer Reece Walno showed his commitment to his department and his community by establishing a strong and diligent work ethic and personally fielding more than 1,200 calls for service. One traffic stop stood out from the rest: On August 8, Officer Walno stopped a vehicle for speeding and equipment violations. During the traffic stop, Officer Walno observed multiple indicators of criminal activity. Officer Walno was able to obtain consent for a K9 free-air sniff which provided additional narcotic detection resources. During the vehicle search, suspected methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia were located and seized. Officer Walno’s training and experience led him to determine the evidence located was involved in the distribution of illegal controlled substances. The driver was later taken into custody for active arrest warrants and other felony and misdemeanor charges.
Despite call volume and shift shortages, Officer Walno continued his proactive investigation and seized the suspect’s cellphone. Officer Walno began the search of the cellphone data and discovered information suggesting further narcotic activity occurring through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Officer Walno contacted the USPS Postal Inspector and provided actionable intelligence which led to an initial seizure of a dark web marijuana parcel from Wyoming. Officer Walno contacted drug agents with the UNET-N [Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team – North)] Drug Task Force and provided further intelligence.
Officer Walno’s investigative tenacity and attention to detail produced significant, well-documented intelligence which allowed law enforcement to stop more than a pound of controlled substances in addition to dark web marijuana from being distributed to Spearfish and other surrounding communities. Officer Walno completed a high-level narcotics investigation while also meeting the high-volume demand for calls for service and continuing other proactive police activities.
U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota Alison J. Ramsdell offered these comments, “I commend Officer Reece Walno on his selection for the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. In the District of South Dakota, we rely heavily on the work of local law enforcement officers like Officer Walno to build impactful federal drug prosecutions. Officer Walno’s detailed and thorough investigations have been crucial in helping to piece together drug rings and bring drug traffickers to justice. Through the dedicated efforts of Officer Walno and others throughout the law enforcement community in South Dakota, we will continue to dismantle the drug trafficking organizations that are peddling poison in our communities.”
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.
The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities.
The Department of Justice commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Federal Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schrier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on December 2, 2024.
Wilson Boneshirt, 50, 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.
Boneshirt was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in May 2024. He pleaded guilty in September 2024.
Boneshirt is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act due to a 2002 conviction in U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota, for Incest. In March 2024, Boneshirt was on parole with the South Dakota Department of Corrections and residing at the Glory House in Sioux Falls. On March 29, 2024, Boneshirt was granted a two-day furlough to attend a relative’s funeral, but he failed to return to the Glory House as required and did not update the sex offender registry with his new location. His whereabouts were unknown to registration officials until his arrest on May 23, 2024.
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 U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Beau J. Blouin prosecuted the case.
Boneshirt was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 11 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute. The sentencing took place on December 2, 2024.
Larry Wayne Moss, a/k/a “Lucci,” age 48, was sentenced to 11.5 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Moss was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 30, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from an investigation early in 2023. Moss sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on three separate occasions between January and March of 2023. On March 6, 2023, investigators obtained a search warrant for the motel where Moss was staying. They executed the search warrant and discovered approximately two pounds of methamphetamine, 42 grams of fentanyl pills, ecstasy, and marijuana. Moss intended to distribute the methamphetamine to others in the District of South Dakota. Methamphetamine is a Scheduled II controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Moss was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Two Years and Three Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell 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 November 18, 2024.
Patrick Left Hand Bull, age 51, was sentenced to 27 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.
A federal grand jury indicted Left Hand Bull in June 2024. He pleaded guilty on August 28, 2024.
Left Hand Bull is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act as a result of a federal felony conviction in February 2014 for Abusive Sexual Contact. On March 11, 2024, he updated his sex offender registry address to the Cornerstone Rescue Mission in Rapid City. Left Hand Bull resided there intermittently between March 11, 2024, and April 23, 2024. Between April 27, 2024, and May 8, 2024, he did not live at the Cornerstone Rescue Mission and did not register or update his new address with the sex offender registry. Left Hand Bull knew of his requirement to register and knowingly failed to do so.
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 U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Left Hand Bull was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to over Three Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell 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 November 26, 2024.
Jordan Running Hawk, 21, 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.
Running Hawk was indicted for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in June 2024. He pleaded guilty on September 12, 2024.
In April 2024, an officer with the Rapid City Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Running Hawk. During the traffic stop, the officer discovered Running Hawk was in possession of a firearm and a firearm magazine loaded with 31 rounds of ammunition. When the officer asked Running Hawk about the firearm, Running Hawk attempted to flee but was apprehended by officers shortly thereafter and arrested. Running Hawk is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he was previously convicted of a felony crime.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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.
Running Hawk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Charles Merrival, age 32, was sentenced on November 22, 2024, to eight years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition was also ordered. Merrival was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2022 and pleaded guilty on July 8, 2024.
From approximately July 2021 through January 2022, Merrival was involved in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy in Rapid City. Law enforcement stopped Merrival in a truck in July 2021. A search of the vehicle recovered 10 grams of methamphetamine and other drug related items. On January 12, 2022, law enforcement witnessed Merrival hand a backpack to a co-conspirator in a store parking lot. When that backpack was subsequently searched, law enforcement located 40 grams of methamphetamine, a pink semi-automatic pistol, and numerous rounds of ammunition. Merrival was found to be in possession of additional rounds ammunition. During the investigation, multiple sources confirmed Merrival’s history of violence and firearm possession. Merrival is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous felony convictions. Merrival is a former member and Sergeant-at-Arms of the Ghost Dance Motorcycle Club, a support group for the Bandidos.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Troy Morley, Brian Murphy, and Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Merrival was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing. Merrival faces additional, unrelated charges in Pennington County.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on November 25, 2024.
Jacob Denker, 41, was sentenced to 10 years 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 Crime Victims Fund.
Denker was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (fentanyl) by a federal grand jury in June 2024. He pleaded guilty on August 28, 2024.
Beginning around March 2023, Denker began obtaining fentanyl along with his girlfriend, Jamie Lee. They picked up fentanyl in Colorado and then brought it to South Dakota. In Rapid City, Denker and his girlfriend’s sub-distributors further distributed fentanyl throughout the Rapid City area and the Pine Ridge Reservation. This activity continued through September 2023. Overall, Denker and the other co-conspirators were responsible for bringing over 400 grams of fentanyl to the area. Co-defendant Eugene Giago is scheduled for trial on January 7, 2025, and co-defendant Jamie Lee is scheduled for sentencing on January 27, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, Martin Police Department, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
Denker was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mitchell Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Mitchell, South Dakota, man convicted of Aggravated Identity Theft. The sentencing took place on December 2, 2024.
Jeremy Zwetzig, age 44, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, restitution in the amount of $1,935.90, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Zwetzig was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 29, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on January 23, 2023, when Zwetzig stole mail in Mitchell. One piece of mail contained a check that was not addressed to him. He then used the banking information from that legitimate business check to create a fraudulent check drawn on that same account, unbeknownst to the actual holder of the account. Zwetzig made the fraudulent check payable to an actual person and then negotiated the fraudulent check by depositing it into a bank account that he fraudulently opened using the name of the actual account holder so he could draw the funds and spend them.
This case was investigated by the Mitchell Police Department, the U.S Postal Inspection Service, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Zwetzig was allowed to self-report to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service by December 30, 2024.
Former Box Elder Teacher’s Aide Indicted and Detained for Sexual Exploitation and Enticement of a Minor StudentRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Box Elder, South Dakota, woman for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography.
In August 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Duncan Sioux Witt, age 28, originally from Kansas. She was extradited from South Carolina after being arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service while working in a private school. Witt appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on November 22, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 15 years up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Witt was previously employed at Douglas High School in Box Elder as a special education paraprofessional teacher’s aide. The alleged victim was a student receiving special education services at the time of Witt’s crimes. In February 2024, Witt began sending the boy sexually explicit messages, and sexually explicit images and videos of herself, using Snapchat. She induced the boy to send her sexually explicit pictures and videos of himself, which she saved in her Snapchat account.
The charges are merely accusations and Witt is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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.
The investigation is being conducted by the Box Elder Police Department and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox is prosecuting the case.
Witt was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for January 28, 2025.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell 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 November 25, 2024.
Mason Neck, age 35, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Neck was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024. He pleaded guilty on August 28, 2024.
Neck was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in 2019. As a consequence of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment. In September 2023, Neck began a period of supervised release residing in Rapid City and appropriately registered as a sex offender. In April 2024, Neck moved from his registered address, but did not thereafter update his registration. He was arrested in Rapid City on May 8, 2024.
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 U.S. Marshals Service. Senior Litigation Counsel Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Neck was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.