District of South Dakota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Porcupine Man Sentenced to Forty Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on May 16, 2024.
Wilbur Morrison, age 36, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release on each count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for the charge of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. He was also ordered to pay a total of $300 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for the three convictions. The prison sentences and periods of supervision shall be served concurrently.
Morrison was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. He was found guilty following a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, in February of 2024.
On the evening of January 12, 2023, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety was dispatched to Morrison’s residence for a report of a physical assault between Morrison and his adult brother. Law enforcement learned from a neighbor that Morrison was intoxicated and sexually abusing the victim in the living room of the home. The victim, including other children in the home, ran to the neighbor’s house where the incident was reported to law enforcement. All children were forensically interviewed by the Child Advocacy Center in Rapid City. The victim disclosed sexual abuse occurring on the evening of January 12, 2023, and on at least one other occasion.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Morrison was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy and Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on May 15, 2024.
Justin Bradford, 46, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for the Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person charge. He was sentenced to 19 years and seven months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for the Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance charge. He was also ordered to pay a total of $200 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The prison sentences and periods of supervision are to be served concurrently.
Bradford was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on March 10, 2024.
In September of 2022, law enforcement searched Bradford’s residence in connection with a homicide that occurred. Bradford was not involved in the death of the individual, but the shooter intended on purchasing methamphetamine from Bradford when the shooting took place. During the search, law enforcement seized three firearms and several different kinds of ammunition. Bradford was a convicted felon and was not lawfully allowed to possess firearms or ammunition. Bradford was also charged with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine from 2019 through 2022. Bradford managed and organized at least three individuals involved in the conspiracy.
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 Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Bradford was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
North Dakota Man Sentenced for Possession of Nine Pounds of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute it in Northern South DakotaRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Fargo, North Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute. The sentencing took place on May 20, 2024.
Travis Leanell Henley, 28, was sentenced to 14 years and seven months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Henley was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He pleaded guilty on October 10, 2023.
On April 5, 2022, Henley was pulled over for a traffic violation in Roberts County, South Dakota. The Roberts County Deputy noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and the vehicle was searched. The deputy located marijuana in the ash tray, approximately $3,000 in cash in the center console, a loaded firearm in the backseat, and over nine pounds of methamphetamine in the back hatch of the vehicle. Upon the deputy locating the methamphetamine, Henley fled the scene on foot. After a short chase, Henley was captured and arrested for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cass County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case.
Henley was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mobridge Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Mobridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on May 20, 2024.
Charles Evyn Russell, age 36, was sentenced to nine years and one month in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Upon his release from federal prison, Russell will be required to register as a sex offender.
Russell was indicted by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on October 30, 2023.
The conviction stems from incidents between July 31, 2021, and April 1, 2022, when Russell possessed over 600 images of child pornography on various computer and electronic devices at his residence in Mobridge. Russell used the application KIK to obtain child pornography from other users.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Mobridge Police Department, and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Russell was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on May 20, 2024.
Benjamin Eagle, age 62, was sentenced to ten 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.
Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. He pleaded guilty on November 20, 2023.
Around August 9, 2022, Eagle was visiting a residence in McLaughlin, within the Standing Rock Reservation. He was at the residence because he was consuming alcohol, was not getting along with his significant other, and could not be at his own residence. Eagle used force to engage in sexual contact with a nine-year-old child. The child later disclosed the abuse at a child advocacy center in Bismarck, North Dakota. Eagle admitted he had no excuse nor justification for abusing the child and knew the wrongfulness of his actions at the time of the offense.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher prosecuted the case.
Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Manderson Man Sentenced for Misprison of a FelonyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. Circuit Judge Jonathan A. Kobes, sitting in district court in Rapid City, South Dakota, has sentenced a Manderson, South Dakota, man convicted of Misprison of a Felony. The sentencing took place on May 14, 2024.
Ivan White Plume, a/k/a Ivan White Butterfly, 33, was sentenced to time served, one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. White Butterfly served a total of one year and 11 months in custody.
White Butterfly was indicted for Accessory After the Fact to Second Degree Murder by a federal grand jury in May of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 14, 2024.
In February 2022, White Butterfly was questioned by tribal law enforcement officers about the disappearance of a 17-year-old female. Despite knowing that his relative, Tyson White Plume, had confessed to shooting and killing the victim, White Butterfly concealed his knowledge of the minor’s death and the shooter’s confession.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Hot Springs Man Sentenced for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jonathan A. Kobes, sitting in district court in Rapid City, South Dakota, has sentenced a Hot Springs, South Dakota, man for Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on May 14, 2024.
Christian Justus Willard, a/k/a “Bamalife24”, age 24, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Willard was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $3,000 in restitution to his victim.
A federal grand jury indicted Willard in August of 2023 for offenses relating to sexual exploitation of a minor. On March 8, 2024, he pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography.
Willard used the internet-based application Snapchat and his cellular phone to entice a 13-year-old female to engage in sexually explicit activity. Despite knowing the victim’s age, Willard solicited sexually explicit photos and videos from the victim and offered her drugs. Willard saved several of the illegal photos and videos on his cellular phone.
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, the Hot Springs Police Department, and the Fall River County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Willard was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Colorado Man Sentenced for Distributing a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced an Aurora, Colorado, man convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Anthony Ward, age 39, was sentenced on May 17, 2024, to 30 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 $200.
A co-conspirator, Darnell Young, was sentenced to 17 years and six months in federal prison on October 24, 2023.
Both defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in the spring of 2023. Anthony Ward was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance resulting in serious bodily injury and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance following a four-day federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, that concluded on February 26, 2024.
The convictions stem from an investigation into Ward that started in the spring of 2022. Investigators eventually stopped a vehicle that Ward was traveling in and found approximately 150 fentanyl pills, $2,859.00 in cash, and a handgun in a bag in the trunk of the vehicle. Through the investigation, law enforcement learned that Ward was responsible for sourcing thousands of fentanyl pills from Denver to Rapid City. They also learned that he sourced a fentanyl pill that was eventually distributed to someone in Rapid City who smoked the pill and overdosed. Another person present at the scene was able to revive the victim with Narcan. Ward also received a sentencing enhancement for lying under oath during his trial.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), Drug Enforcement Agency, 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. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Ward was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Federal, State, and Local Agencies Honored with Midwest HIDTA AwardsRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS – Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota, has announced multiple local recipients of High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) awards. The presentation took place in Sioux Falls on April 24, 2024. The awards were presented for the extraordinary work done on the Three Sisters and Grand Ram Operations, which involved the dismantling of drug trafficking activity from Mexico to South Dakota and other states.
The Midwest HIDTA Outstanding Prosecution Award was given to those involved with Operation Three Sisters, an investigation that began when Sioux Falls Police Department (SFPD) Narcotics Detectives received information about a couple in Sioux Falls who was selling large amounts of methamphetamine. Members of the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force conducted an investigation into those two individuals, which resulted in the seizure of approximately two pounds of methamphetamine from their home. Investigators also located information at the home that led to the source of the illicit drugs. That information was utilized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) agents to conduct an investigation into an individual who was arranging to have methamphetamine brought to Sioux Falls from Mexico through California. Agents were then able to work up to two individuals in Mexico who were working to source narcotics to Sioux Falls and other areas. As a result of the investigation, large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl were removed from the distribution stream. In all, the investigation revealed that more than 250 pounds of methamphetamine had been distributed in the community.
The investigation and subsequent prosecutions demonstrate the impact that significant information sharing can have in dismantling large drug distribution conspiracies. The key to reaching the source in Mexico was intelligence sharing and a willingness to work together by local, state, and federal agencies investigating different members of the conspiracy. In total, twenty defendants were federally prosecuted and convicted as a result of this operation, including Salvador Madrigal, Jr., who was sentenced to 33 years and four months in federal prison on August 7, 2023.
Recipients of the Outstanding Prosecution Award include agents from the SFPD, DCI, DEA, ATF, IRS, and SDHP, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Hodges and Elizabeth Ebert, Legal Administrative Specialist Lindsay Nicola (USAO), and Litigation Support Manager Jeff Peters (USAO).
The Midwest HIDTA Outstanding Investigative Collaboration Award was given to those involved with Operation Grand Ram. During this operation, investigators infiltrated the distribution network of the drug trafficking organization (DTO). Investigators discovered that defendants were bringing methamphetamine from California and Minneapolis to South Dakota for further distribution. They also learned that at least one defendant was obtaining methamphetamine from Sioux Falls and bringing it to Wisconsin to sell. Ultimately, investigators learned that proceeds from the drugs sold in South Dakota were being sent back to individuals in Mexico. Throughout the operation, investigators seized multiple pounds of methamphetamine, thousands of fentanyl pills, and thousands of dollars. Operation Grand Ram resulted in the federal prosecution of 16 individuals for distribution of controlled substances, money laundering, and firearm violations in the District of South Dakota.
Recipients of the Outstanding Investigative Collaboration Award include agents from HSI, MCSO, DEA, IRS, and SFPD, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges.
The HIDTA program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. The DEA plays a very active role and has more than 1,500 authorized special agent positions dedicated to the program. At the local level, the HIDTAs are directed and guided by Executive Boards composed of an equal number of regional Federal and non-Federal (state, local, and tribal) law enforcement leaders.
South Dakota counties involved in the Midwest HIDTA include Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Clay, Codington, Custer, Lawrence, Lincoln, Meade, Minnehaha, Pennington, Union, and Yankton.
Watauga Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Assault by Striking, Beating or WoundingRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Justin James Schneider, age 38, of Watauga, South Dakota, was found guilty of Assault by Striking, Beating or Wounding as a result of a two-day federal jury trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and/or a $100,000 fine, one year of supervised release, and a $25 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Schneider was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2023.
On October 26, 2022, in McIntosh, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, Schneider, a non-Indian man, was taking out the trash when he saw another man. Schneider believed the other man, a tribal member, had wronged him several months earlier. Schneider gestured for the man to join him in a neighbor’s yard. When they met, Schneider accused the man of misconduct, then punched him several times in the face. Schneider walked the man to his wife’s workplace, forced him to apologize for the alleged misdeed, and then punched him once more on the nose, breaking it.
This case was investigated by the Corson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation report was ordered and a sentencing date of August 1, 2024, was set. Schneider remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Two Rapid City Men, one Rapid City Woman, and one Colorado Woman Sentenced for ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jonathan A. Kobes, sitting in district court in Rapid City, South Dakota, and U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier have sentenced two Rapid City, South Dakota, men, one Rapid City, South Dakota, woman, and one Denver, Colorado, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Mark Bond, age 59, was sentenced by Eighth Circuit Judge Kobes on May 15, 2024, to 26 years and eight months 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.
Todd Pape, age 61, was sentenced by Eighth Circuit Judge Kobes on May 15, 2024, to 25 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.
Teresa Goodroad, age 41, was sentenced on May 15, 2024, by Judge Schreier to 17 years and six 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.
Kaylee Heppner, age 37, was sentenced on May 15, 2024, by Eighth Circuit Judge Kobes to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Bond and Pape were indicted by a federal grand jury in the summer of 2022, and pleaded guilty on March 11, 2024.
Goodroad and Heppner were indicted by a federal grand jury in the fall of 2023, and pleaded guilty on March 15, 2024.
These convictions stemmed from activities involving the large scale distribution of methamphetamine in Rapid City, South Dakota, and on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Goodroad and her significant other, Richard Glover, who is set to be sentenced later this summer, were the source of supply for Bond and Pape in South Dakota. During the course of the conspiracy, Bond and Pape would make trips to Colorado to pick up pounds of methamphetamine from Goodroad and Glover. Other times Goodroad and Glover would deliver the drugs to Bond and Pape in South Dakota. Once the drugs were in South Dakota it would be further distributed by multiple individuals, including Heppner. Between 15 and 45 kilograms of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of this criminal enterprise.
Co-defendant Marlena Pond was previously sentenced to six years in custody. Six other co-defendants are pending sentencing later this summer.
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 Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
All four were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following their respective sentencings.
Parmelee Man Sentenced for Assault and Prohibited Person in Possession of a FirearmRead 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 Parmelee, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on May 15, 2024.
Tanner Barron, age 32, was sentenced to two years and six 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.
Barron was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 29, 2024.
In the evening of September 30, 2022, Barron and the mother of his children had a verbal argument about their relationship. The disagreement continued into the next day and became physical when Barron threw the victim down. Barron then placed his hands on the victim’s neck and applied pressure, sufficient to leave a bruise and cause her voice to be hoarse. Officers from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services responded to the scene, but Barron was no longer present. Officers located Barron in his vehicle at a gas station in Rosebud on October 2, 2022. A search of his person revealed a pipe used to ingest methamphetamine. A pistol was found on the front floorboard of Barron’s vehicle. As a regular user of methamphetamine, Barron was prohibited from possessing a firearm. The offenses occurred within the Rosebud Reservation.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
Further, 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Barron was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Oglala Man Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jonathan A. Kobes, sitting in district court in Rapid City, South Dakota, has sentenced an Oglala, South Dakota, man convicted of one count of Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet and two counts of Commercial Sex Trafficking. The sentencing took place on May 14, 2024.
Gordon Weston, age 58, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release on each count of conviction, and ordered to pay a total of $300 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for the three convictions. The prison sentences and periods of supervision shall be served concurrently.
Weston was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in September of 2021. He was found guilty following a federal jury trial in Rapid City in January of 2024.
Weston was employed as the Activities Coordinator at the Emergency Youth Shelter in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, from 2009 to 2021. During his employment he met several females at the shelter, one of which was the charged victim in the case. The victim was a vulnerable child who had been removed from her household due to neglect, violence, and drug and alcohol abuse. After the victim was released from the shelter, Weston contacted her through social media and solicited her for sexual intercourse in exchange for money. Weston engaged in two acts of Commercial Sex Trafficking on two separate occasions. Through the investigation, it was revealed that Weston had victimized at least one other female.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Poppen and Jeff Clapper prosecuted the case.
Weston was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
New Underwood Man Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a New Underwood, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on May 14, 2024.
Matthew Bowman, 35, was sentenced to five years and ten months in federal prison, followed by five years supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Bowman will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Bowman was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in November of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 24, 2024.
The charge stems from Bowman receiving child pornography between September of 2020 and July of 2022. Investigators found images depicting child sex abuse, and some of the images depicted children appearing as young as four to six years old. Bowman’s child pornography collection was reported to law enforcement through a cybertip from Google Drive and Google Photos.
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 Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Bowman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lead Couple Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that a Lead, South Dakota husband and wife convicted of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States have been sentenced to prison. The couple must also pay $211,564.17 in restitution.
On May 15, 2024, U.S. Circuit Judge Jonathan A. Kobes sentenced Tami Lee Stokes, 52, to 15 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.
On May 16, 2024, U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced Jason Lee Stokes, 48, to 18 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 Stokes were indicted by a federal grand jury in October of 2023 for Theft of Government Funds, Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, and False Statement. They both pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the United States on March 8, 2024. The conviction stems from the Stokes’ scheme to fraudulently obtain benefits from the Social Security Administration (“SSA”).
In December of 2012, Jason Stokes submitted an application for Social Security Title II Disability Insurance Benefits, claiming he was unable to work because of illness. He qualified for benefits. Thereafter, Jason and his wife, Tami Stokes, repeatedly reported false and fraudulent information to the SSA about the nature and extent of Jason’s alleged disability.
From 2013 to 2023, Jason and Tami filed written reports and attended doctors’ appointments claiming Jason needed a wheelchair, could not physically function without constant assistance, and was unable to work. At doctors’ appointments, Jason acted as though he was suffering the symptoms falsely reported in the Stokes’ written reports. The Stokes also sought and obtained benefits on behalf of a minor dependent child. In reality, Jason was healthy and continued to work as a self-employed construction contractor, putting his LLC in his wife’s name to hide his employability.
Throughout the time period of the fraud, the Stokes obtained $166,458.00 in Title II benefits for Jason’s falsified disability, and $43,042.00 in Title II benefits on behalf of their minor child, resulting in a total payout of approximately $209,500.00. During this time period, the Stokes purchased three snowmobiles, two vehicles, a trailer, and a motorcycle. They obtained numerous hunting licenses, took month-long international vacations, and enjoyed various outdoor activities including helicoptering and boating.
Ultimately, their ten years of fraud was uncovered in 2022 when a doctor at a required consultative exam noted Jason’s muscle tone and other bodily functions did not match his purported levels of impairment. Investigators surveilled the Stokes engaging in their daily routine and observed them shopping, traveling to Mexico to go scuba-diving, going to restaurants, and driving. These activities completely contradicted the Stokes’ representation to the SSA that Jason couldn’t leave the home and needed assistance in essentially every aspect of his life.
When sentencing Tami Stokes on May 15, 2024, to fifteen months in federal prison, U.S. Circuit Judge Jonathan A. Kobes stated that Tami took “full advantage of the fraud on the United States” and lived “the high life on the taxpayers’ dime.” At Jason Stokes’ sentencing on May 16, 2024, U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier told Jason, “Most of the people in South Dakota are honest, hardworking people. The scheme you were involved in here was not that at all.” Judge Schreier outlined the “outright lies” that the Stokes fed the SSA, including that Jason could not shave or brush his teeth, meanwhile the Stokes used “government money to purchase [various vehicles] and other items.” Judge Schreier sentenced Jason to eighteen months in federal prison, citing Jason’s conduct as more egregious than Tami’s because of the fact he actually pretended to be totally disabled.
This case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General – Social Security Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
The Stokes were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - In honor of National Police Week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota pauses to recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement. The week will be observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
“In South Dakota, federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement officers collaborate daily to protect communities throughout the state,” said U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell. “They do this work despite the tremendous risk to personal safety and a persistent shortage of resources. As we confronted earlier this year with the tragic death of Moody County Chief Deputy Ken Prorok, law enforcement’s selfless commitment to public safety sometimes leads to the ultimate sacrifice. We at the U.S. Attorney’s Office are grateful, every day, for the tireless work and dedication of our partners in blue.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, man convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024.
Verran Burdunice, 60, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Burdunice was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 21, 2024.
On February 1, 2023, Burdunice met with someone who, unbeknownst to him, was working with law enforcement to conduct a controlled purchase of crack cocaine from him. Following that meeting, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Burdunice’s vehicle in Brookings, South Dakota. A search of the car revealed approximately 212 grams of methamphetamine. This methamphetamine was later tested and found to be 100% pure.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brookings Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Burdunice was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Fentanyl Overdose CaseRead 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 Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024.
Jason Winckler, 44, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised released. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Winckler was indicted for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 21, 2024.
On or about March 17, 2022, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Winckler distributed a pill containing fentanyl to one of his drug customers, who in turn gave it to his girlfriend, who ingested the pill and experienced an overdose. The police were called and when officers arrived, the victim was unconscious, not breathing, and was turning blue. The officers were able to revive the victim after administering three doses of Narcan.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizbeth Ebert prosecuted the case.
Winckler was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Prohibited Possession of a FirearmRead 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 Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Uver Revolorio-Hernandez, age 50, was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Revolorio-Hernandez was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in September 2023. He pleaded guilty to on January 23, 2024.
On July 31, 2023, Uver Revolorio-Hernandez was arrested after threatening and shooting at a neighbor and the neighbor’s six-year-old child. Revolorio-Hernandez shot at them four times from his vehicle while he drove away from the scene. Law enforcement located two spent 9mm shell casings outside of the victim’s residence and one bullet inside the victim’s residence, which had penetrated three walls of the home.
When law enforcement officers encountered Revolorio-Hernandez in his vehicle, he was intoxicated and in possession of a loaded Hi-Point 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number and two spent 9mm casings.
Revolorio-Hernandez is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he is an illegal alien and because he is a convicted felon; specifically, Revolorio-Hernandez was convicted of Assault – 2nd Degree Dangerous Weapon (Felony) on March 17, 2008, in Scott County, Minnesota.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the City of Sioux Falls Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case.
Revolorio-Hernandez was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced 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, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024.
Marc Jones, age 30, was sentenced to 20 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. Jones must register as a sex offender upon his release from federal prison.
Jones was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 23, 2024.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 23, 2023, when Jones possessed images of child pornography on his cell phone. The images were taken of minor females exiting a shower. The minors were unaware of the photographs being taken. Jones was previously convicted in 2014 of 4th Degree Rape in South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
Jones was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rosebud Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead 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 Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024.
Jesse Leader Charge, age 29, 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.
Leader Charge was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in December of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 5, 2024.
On October 7, 2019, Leader Charge was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota. As a result of this conviction, Leader Charge must comply with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Leader Charge was released from a prison term on September 11, 2023, and began his term of supervised release residing in Rosebud. Leader Charge failed to update his registration upon release from prison and did not update his registration until he was arrested in December of 2023.
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 and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Leader Charge was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Gregory County Man Sentenced for AssaultRead 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 Gregory County, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024.
Dillon Yellow Hawk, age 27, was sentenced to seven 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.
Yellow Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 5, 2024.
In April of 2023, Yellow Hawk was living at his grandmother’s residence in rural Gregory County, South Dakota on property that is part of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Yellow Hawk’s aunt and adult cousin, as well as Yellow Hawk’s three young children, also lived at the residence. On the evening of April 24, 2023, into the early morning hours of April 25, 2023, Yellow Hawk, his cousin, his aunt, and others were consuming alcohol. As the night progressed, an argument began between Yellow Hawk and his cousin, which included physical contact by both parties. The fight between the two escalated, culminating with Yellow Hawk grabbing his shotgun. Yellow Hawk fired the gun at his cousin, striking his cousin in the abdomen. Yellow Hawk maintained possession of the firearm and entered his grandmother’s bedroom where his aunt was also. To prevent another shot, Yellow Hawk’s aunt attempted to grab the gun. Her arm was near the muzzle when Yellow Hawk fired a second shot. Both victims were transported to Sioux Falls for medical treatment and required surgery for their injuries.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Gregory County Sheriff’s Office, the Burke Police Department, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Yellow Hawk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Justice Department Strengthens Efforts, Builds Partnerships to Address the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous PersonsRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS – The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Dakota joined its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. The District of South Dakota U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell and other District staff will also be hosting and attending events throughout the month of May.
In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges, like the fentanyl crisis, in Tribal communities.
“There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.”
To raise awareness of MMIP issues, U.S. Attorneys and MMIP personnel have been engaging in events with Tribal and law enforcement partners, communities, and stakeholders across the United States, and will continue to do so in the month ahead. On April 17-18, 2024, U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Peterman, MMIP Regional AUSA Troy Morley, and National Native American Outreach Services Liaison Marlys Big Eagle participated in an MMIP Conference hosted by the Oglala and Rosebud Sioux Tribes; on April 30, 2024, Ramsdell, Morley, and Big Eagle joined a panel discussion at the Yankton Community Library; on May 5, 2024, Morley participated in an MMIP Awareness Walk in Porcupine, SD; on May 6, 2024, Morley, Big Eagle, and AUSA Heather Knox presented at South Dakota’s MMIP Awareness and Training Program; and on May 14, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program, will host an MMIP Summit, where leaders from South Dakota’s nine federally recognized tribes will learn about law enforcement resources and Tribal Community Response Plans.
Justice Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases
Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which permanently places five MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorneys and five MMIP coordinators throughout the country to provide specialized support to U.S. Attorneys’ offices as those offices address and combat MMIP issues. This support includes assisting in the investigation of unresolved MMIP cases and related crimes, as well as promoting communication, coordination, and collaboration among federal, Tribal, local, and state law enforcement, and non-governmental partners on MMIP issues. The MMIP Regional Outreach Program has divided its resources into five regions—the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions. The District of South Dakota falls within the Great Plains Region and serves as a host district for one of the five MMIP Regional AUSAs. As previously indicated, Troy Morley has been selected to serve the Great Plains Region as the MMIP Regional AUSA.
In November of 2023, Troy Morley, MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) for the District of South Dakota, bought to closure a cold case that was 31 years old. In 1992, in Roberts County, Jay Adams Jr. of Sisseton, South Dakota, killed a minor victim, in the heat of passion, by inflicting fatal blunt force trauma to her head. Adams signed documents admitting he used violent force to inflict the injury upon the victim in the early morning hours of September 4, 1992. Adams did not seek medical attention for the victim and later the same day discovered she had died. Adams feigned ignorance as to the cause of the victim’s injury. Earlier in 2023, new evidence came to light which implicated Adams in the death of the victim. Sentencing is scheduled for June 3, 2024.
“Cold cases are not closed cases in the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. “As this tragic case demonstrates, no matter how long it takes, we remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice. It is our hope that the cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s office offers some measure of closure to victims’ families and helps honor the sacred memory of missing and murdered Indigenous persons.”
The MMIP regional program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ Offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People, and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022.
Not Invisible Act Commission Response
The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-Department effort. In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission (NIAC)’s recommendations on how to combat the missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking crises. The NIAC response, announced by Attorney General Garland during a visit to the Crow Nation, recognizes that more must be done across the federal government to resolve this longstanding crisis and support healing from the generational traumas that Indigenous peoples have endured throughout the history of the United States.
The Department is in the process of implementing its response now, addressing several areas in the near term, including:
- Improving coordination, funding, and operations of efforts to combat MMIP and human trafficking;
- Enhancing research to better trace the underlying causes of MMIP and human trafficking, to reduce barriers to accessing resources, and to identify data sharing opportunities with healthcare systems;
- Improving access to funding aligned with Tribes’ needs;
- Developing guidance on the effective use of the media and social media to engage the public when someone is reported missing;
- Improving communications with families of victims or missing people; and
- Working with a multi-jurisdictional working group to address factors that lead people, particularly young people, to voluntarily go missing.
Addressing Violent Crime and the Fentanyl Crisis in Indian Country
As noted in the joint response to the NIAC, research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities — including disproportionate violence against women, families, and children; substance use; drug trafficking; and labor and sex trafficking — can influence the rates of missing American Indian and Alaska Native people.
Further, fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths are the leading cause of opioid deaths throughout the United States, including Indian county, where drug-related overdose death rates for Native Americans exceeds the national rate.
Therefore, federal law enforcement components are ramping up efforts to forge stronger partnerships with federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to address violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, which exposes already vulnerable communities to greater harm. For instance:
- Last year, the Justice Department increased funding to the FBI Safe Trails Task Forces to build on the success they have had in bringing together agencies, including Tribal police departments, to combat public safety threats, violent crime, and drug trafficking. The FBI has increased its investigative resources in some of the Indian Country field offices that were in most need of personnel.
- Last year, the FBI undertook Operation Not Forgotten, which surged more than 40 personnel, including agents, intelligence analysts, tactical specialists, and victim specialists, to 10 field offices, where they were able to supplement more than 200 pending investigations related to violence against indigenous women and children, with a focus on homicide, serious bodily injury, and physical and sexual child abuse. To date, there have been seven successful indictments. Special Agents identified four previously unidentified child victims and recovered one child victim. Numerous other cases were referred for federal or Tribal prosecutions based on these efforts.
- This year, the DEA has established liaisons with each of the FBI-led Safe Trails Task Forces. In addition, DEA is expanding Operation Overdrive to include partnering with Tribal law enforcement and community outreach specialists to reduce the harm caused by drugs and drug-related violence. Operation Overdrive utilizes a data-driven approach to identify hot spots of drug-related violence and drug-poisoning deaths across the country, in order to concentrate resources where criminal drug networks are causing the most harm. DEA’s Operation Engage has facilitated programs for Tribal youth, focusing on increasing drug prevention and awareness.
- The U.S. Marshals Service has developed a legislative proposal to formalize its role in enforcing Tribal violent felony arrest warrants that would expand a pilot launched last year where the Marshals served Tribal warrants at the request of, and in close coordination with, Tribal law enforcement and the Department’s Office of Tribal Justice. This effort has successfully targeted extremely dangerous offenders.
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recently assigned a Special Agent/Certified Fire Investigator to the MMIP Initiative to conduct case reviews for each of the five regions. ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Identification Network (NIBIN) and Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC) are used as an investigative resource for MMIP cases involving the criminal use of a firearm.
- In addition to coordinating our enforcement efforts, the Justice Department is also focused on supporting education and awareness efforts, as well as prevention, treatment, and recovery. The Bureau of Justice Assistance has provided training sessions for Tribal law enforcement, judges, and public safety personnel on our shared work to address fentanyl poisoning, including on the use of Narcan for fentanyl overdoses.
“The FBI remains unwavering in our pledge to work with our law enforcement partners to address the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities and families,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the crime impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”
“DEA’s top priority is protecting all communities from deadly drugs, like fentanyl, and drug related violent crime,” said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “We know that no community has been spared from these deadly threats and we are committed to keeping Tribal communities safe.”
Accessing Justice Department Resources
Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities.
For additional information about the Justice Department’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the MMIP section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website.
Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.
Wanblee Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Wanblee, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on April 25, 2024.
Richard Lorn Brown, 28, was sentenced to a total of four years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Judge Lange imposed an 18-month sentence on the Failure to Register charge and a 30-month sentence on the Assault charge, and ordered the sentences to run consecutively.
Brown was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, Committing a Crime of Violence While Failing to Register, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 26, 2024.
The conviction stems from Brown failing to update his sex offender registration in July of 2022 and then stabbing a man with a knife in July of 2023.
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 U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Brown was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Wall Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Wall, South Dakota, man convicted of Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet and Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 26, 2024.
Miguel Antonio Alvarez, 50, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for the Enticement charge and 20 years in federal prison for the Receipt charge, all to run concurrently. Additionally, Alvarez was sentenced to eight years of supervised released, and order to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $27,500 in restitution. Alvarez will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Alvarez was indicted for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Enticement of a Minor, Distribution of Child Pornography, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in January of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 24, 2024.
The convictions stem from Alvarez enticing a 14-year-old girl between April of 2022 and May of 2022 in Wall, South Dakota. Additionally, Alvarez was in receipt of hundreds of images and videos of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, the FBI, the Pennington County’s Office, and the Lynnwood Police Department in Snohomish County, Washington. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Alvarez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. Chief District Judge Roberto A. Lange 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 April 26, 2024.
Tristan Alvie Habben, 22, was sentenced to three years and two 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.
Habben was indicted for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in October of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 31, 2024.
The charge relates to Habben, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, knowingly being in possession of a Taurus model PT740, .40 Smith & Wesson caliber, semi-automatic pistol and rounds of Winchester .40 Smith & Wesson caliber ammunition in Rapid City in August of 2023.
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.
Habben was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Custer Man Sentenced for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Custer, South Dakota, man for receiving child pornography. The sentencing took place on April 25, 2024.
Nathan Frisch, a 43-year-old former teacher in both Custer and Rapid City, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Frisch was also ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution, a $5,000 special assessment to the Victims of Trafficking Fund, a $5,000 special assessment to the Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Fund, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Frisch was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. On January 17, 2024, he pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography.
Frisch admitted that he knowingly downloaded child pornography from the internet, using his cell phone and laptop between September 4, 2022, and December 30, 2022. Frisch also admitted that he used the “Reface” application to transpose the faces of female minors onto sexually explicit depictions of adult women.
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 and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Frisch was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Box Elder Man Sentenced to Life in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Box Elder, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 26, 2024.
Vincent Alberto Barrios, 43, was sentenced to life in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $600 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Judge Schreier imposed a 30-year sentence on each Sexual Exploitation charge, a life sentence on each Enticement charge, and a 20-year sentence on each Receipt charge. Judge Schreier further ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
Barrios was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. He was found guilty of all charges following a three-day jury trial in December of 2023.
Barrios was arrested and federally indicted following the undercover sex trafficking operation conducted during the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, targeting internet predators. Following multiple chats and sexually explicit text messages with a person Barrios believed to be a 13-year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover agent, Barrios proceeded to negotiate a time and place he would meet the minor to engage in unlawful sex acts. When Barrios went to the pre-determined location to meet the minor, he was instead met by law enforcement agents and placed under arrest. During this time Barrios was also chatting with two other undercover agents Barrios believed to be 14-year-old girls. After a review of Barrios’ phone, law enforcement located a text message conversation with a local 14-year-old girl and child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, HSI, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Barrios was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead 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 a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on April 22, 2024, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Christina Gonzalez, age 34, was sentenced to one year and eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Gonzalez was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in December of 2023. She pleaded guilty on February 6, 2024.
On October 20, 2023, law enforcement responded to a call of a suspicious person trespassing on private property. The reporting party advised the trespasser was a female and that she had a handgun in her possession. When law enforcement arrived, they located Gonzalez next to her vehicle parked near the property. When Gonzalez was placed under arrest, a search of her vehicle was conducted, and law enforcement located the handgun the witness previously saw in her possession.
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 Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.
Gonzalez was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving her sentence.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine Sentenced to over 16 Years in Federal PrisonRead 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 Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on April 22, 2024.
Edward Ward, 52, was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Ward was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 23, 2024.
Ward obtained methamphetamine through the mail from a co-conspirator in California and re-distributed it in South Dakota. On May 3, 2022, Ward sold approximately four ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant who was working with law enforcement. Also on May 17, 2022, he sold another 5.5 ounces of methamphetamine to the informant during a controlled purchase orchestrated by law enforcement. Then again on May 26, 2022, Ward sold another eleven ounces of methamphetamine to the same informant. He was personally involved in the handling and distribution of approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Ward was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Sentenced for Commission of a Crime of Violence while Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead 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 Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender; Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer with a Dangerous Weapon; and Commission of a Crime of Violence while Failing to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on April 24, 2024.
Louis Andrew Rabbitt, Jr., age 42, was sentenced to six years and five months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rabbitt was indicted by a federal grand jury in October and December of 2023. He was convicted of all counts on January 25, 2024, following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Pierre, South Dakota.
According to evidence presented at trial, Rabbitt failed to update his sex offender registration after moving from his registered address in July of 2023. Rabbitt had continued to fail to update his sex offender registration when the U.S. Marshals Service arrived to arrest Rabbitt pursuant to an arrest warrant on September 20, 2023. In an effort to avoid arrest, Rabbitt threatened Deputy U.S. Marshals with a baseball bat before being apprehended.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service with the assistance of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne Venhuizen and Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
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.
Rabbitt was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Ideal Man Sentenced for Larceny and Prohibited Person in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced an Ideal, South Dakota, man convicted of Larceny and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on April 24, 2024.
Tredell Long Crow, age 27, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to a pay $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Long Crow was furthered ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,786.66.
Long Crow was indicted by a federal grand jury in September of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 1, 2024.
The convictions stem from conduct that occurred in July of 2023. On July 15, 2023, Long Crow stole a vehicle from a residence in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which he drove to a residence in Ideal, on property that is part of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. In the early morning hours of July 16, 2023, Long Crow was involved in an argument with two individuals in Ideal, during which he brandished and discharged a firearm.
In 2022, Long Crow was convicted of Possession of a Controlled Drug or Substance in Minnehaha, County, South Dakota. As a result of this conviction, it is illegal for Long Crow to possess firearms or ammunition.
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 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 Sioux Falls Police Department, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Tripp County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Long Crow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Two Men and a Woman Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison Following Convictions for Kidnapping an FBI Employee at GunpointRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced an El Salvadoran man, a Guatemalan man, and a Kersey, Colorado, woman convicted of the following offenses: Kidnapping; Carjacking; Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person; and Unlawful Reentry after Deportation. The sentencings took place on April 12 and April 26, 2024, in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Deyvin Morales, age 29, of Guatemala, was sentenced on April 26, 2024, to 47 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Juan Francisco Alvarez-Sorto, age 25, of El Salvador, was sentenced on April 12, 2024, to 35 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Karla Lopez-Gutierrez, age 29, was sentenced on April 26, 2024, to 26 ½ years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Alvarez, Morales, and Lopez were indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. Lopez-Gutierrez pleaded guilty to Kidnapping and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence on August 17, 2023. Alvarez and Morales were indicted again in December of 2023. On January 23, 2024, following a federal trial, Alvarez and Morales were found guilty of Kidnapping; Carjacking; Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person; and Unlawful Reentry after Deportation.
“The victim in this case was faithfully performing his duties when he found himself at the center of an absolute nightmare — fighting for survival in the back of his own car after these callous defendants carjacked, kidnapped, and held the victim at gunpoint for more than thirty minutes,” said U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell. “That men and women in law enforcement must face such profound risks to their lives while working to secure community safety is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. These lengthy sentences reflect those principles. Once again, we are grateful to the FBI and numerous other federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners for their unwavering commitment to both this investigation and to the righteous mission we all serve in this community.”
“These sentences reaffirm the FBI’s steadfast commitment to protecting our personnel from acts of violence and intimidation,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “We extend our gratitude to the USAO-SD and law enforcement partners for their unwavering dedication. Justice has been served, and we continue to stand united against any attempt to endanger our workforce.”
In her sentencing comments, Judge Schreier declared the defendants’ actions among the most horrendous crimes she had seen as a judge.
According to evidence admitted at trial, on May 5, 2022, Alvarez, Morales, and Lopez traveled from Greeley, Colorado, into southwestern South Dakota for the purpose of trafficking and distributing controlled substances, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin. During their trip, the defendants encountered a South Dakota Highway Patrol Officer and engaged in a high-speed chase. The defendants eluded law enforcement at that time and hid in a remote area near Red Shirt, South Dakota.
Alvarez, Morales, and Lopez then decided to carjack the next vehicle to come along the area at which the defendants stopped on BIA Highway 41. At approximately 2:00 a.m. on May 6, 2022, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Victim Specialist left an unrelated crime scene investigation near Oglala, South Dakota, and began traveling back towards his duty station in Rapid City. The FBI employee was driving his assigned FBI vehicle.
As the employee was heading North on BIA 41 near the Badlands overlook on Cuny Table, he passed a vehicle that was parked in the approach near the overlook. As he passed the parked vehicle, the parked vehicle’s lights turned on and the vehicle pulled out behind the employee. The employee, believing he was being pulled over by law enforcement, pulled his vehicle to the side of the road. After the employee pulled his vehicle over, he next realized there was a male at his window pointing a rifle at him and ordering him to get out of the vehicle. The employee realized that the male, identified as Alvarez, was not a law enforcement officer and also that the vehicle had blocked his own vehicle, preventing him from driving away.
Morales and Alvarez ordered the FBI employee out of his vehicle at gun point. The employee was ordered to get on the ground behind his vehicle while Alvarez was holding the rifle at the back of his head. The employee was ordered to keep his head down while on the ground. The group then robbed him of his wallet, money, credit cards, car keys, watch, and personal and work mobile phones.
The FBI employee was then ordered to get up and placed in the middle-rear seat of his government-issued vehicle, as the passenger side seat was blocked with items. While holding the rifle, Alvarez was seated in the front passenger seat of the employee’s vehicle and Morales, while armed with two handguns in his waistband, was seated in the rear driver’s side seat next to the employee. Lopez got into the driver’s seat of the employee’s vehicle. At this point, the defendants took control of the vehicle and took the employee hostage. As the group traveled North on BIA 41, they told the employee to cooperate and he would be safe, but if he did not, the group would come after his family and that they knew where he lived.
The group traveled to Hermosa, South Dakota, stopping at a gas station at the intersection of State Highway 40 and Highway 79. Once the group arrived at the gas station, Lopez went inside to purchase gas. As she got out of the vehicle to go inside the gas station, Alvarez locked the doors to the employee’s vehicle, and the doors remained locked while Lopez was out of the vehicle. Lopez then came back to the vehicle holding a gas can and zip ties. She entered the vehicle and conducted a U-turn and then went to a gas pump. The FBI employee noticed that after Lopez came back to the vehicle, Alvarez, who was brandishing the firearm, had the zip ties in his possession and was getting them out. As Lopez got out to pump gas, the doors to the vehicle were momentarily unlocked. Seizing the opportunity, the employee opened the rear driver’s side door, fought his way out of the vehicle, slipping out of his jacket to escape Morales' attempts to detain him, and sprinted inside the front doors of the gas station to escape.
The three defendants then fled from the gas station and drove to Rapid City, where they abandoned the FBI vehicle and switched to another vehicle. Alvarez and Morales were able to make it back to Greeley, Colorado, where they were ultimately arrested for their roles in the kidnapping and carjacking. During a search of the residence where Alvarez and Morales were arrested, law enforcement located firearms, including the rifle used during the kidnapping and carjacking, and controlled substances. Lopez was arrested soon afterward.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Rapid City Police Department, Greeley, Colorado Police Department, and the Custer and Pennington County Sheriffs’ Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy R. Jehangiri and Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.
Alvarez, Morales, and Lopez were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving their sentences.
Rosebud Man found Guilty of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Shane Mousseaux, age 37, of Rosebud, South Dakota, of three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on April 18, 2024.
The charges for Sexual Abuse of a Minor each carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The charges for Abusive Sexual Contact each carry a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Mousseaux was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2022.
Between August 6, 2020, and June 21, 2022, Mousseaux lived on the Yankton Sioux Reservation with his then-girlfriend and her children. During that time period, Mousseaux engaged in multiple sexual acts with one of his then-girlfriend’s daughter, who was 14-15 years old at the time. Between May 1, 2022, and June 21, 2022, Mousseaux engaged in sexual contact with another one of his then-girlfriend’s daughter, who was 14 years old at the time.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Yankton Sioux Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ann M. Hoffman and Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has been set for July 19, 2024. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Winner Man Sentenced for Third Degree BurglaryRead 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 Winner, South Dakota, man convicted of Third Degree Burglary. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024.
Anthony Arellano, age 21, was sentenced to time served from his arrest on June 15, 2023, through June 14, 2024, equal to approximately one year in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Arellano was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,665.00.
Arellano was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 8, 2024.
In the early morning hours of June 1, 2023, Arellano broke into a store in Rosebud, South Dakota, and stole several hundred dollars’ worth of merchandise. Arellano was identified on surveillance video from the scene and was arrested at a residence in St. Francis, South Dakota, on June 15, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
Arellano was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Todd County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual ContactRead 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 Todd County, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024.
Derek Sharpfish, age 33, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Sharpfish was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 2, 2024.
The convictions stem from conduct involving two different victims that occurred between October of 2020 and January of 2023 within the Rosebud Indian Reservation. On multiple instances during that period, Sharpfish engaged in sexual intercourse with a minor female who was between the ages of 13 and 15-years-old. On one occasion during that period, Sharpfish groped an adult female while she was sleeping.
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 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 FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Sharpfish was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under IndictmentRead 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 Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment. The sentencing took place on April 16, 2024, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Lucas Ewald Ahrendt, age 32, was sentenced to two years and three months federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Ahrendt was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. He pleaded guilty to Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment on January 26, 2024.
In the evening December 26, 2022, in the West 57th area of Sioux Falls, a passerby observed Ahrendt in the front passenger seat of a truck, smoking a marijuana joint while waving a handgun around. That passerby made a report of the concerning behavior to law enforcement who made contact with Ahrendt and located a Glock handgun, loaded with a full magazine and a bullet in the chamber. Marijuana and fentanyl were also located in the vehicle. Ahrendt was prohibited from possessing firearms because he was under indictment for a felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance in Moody County, South Dakota, when he received the firearm.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case.
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.
Ahrendt was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for False Statement to a Financial InstitutionRead 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 False Statement to a Financial Institution. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024.
James Bunker, d/b/a Genuine Builders, Inc., age 53, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Bunker has also agreed to repay loans to First State Bank that he received under the Main Street Lending program and to the U.S. Small Business Administration for loans he received under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Bunker has also agreed to forfeit $20,000 in U.S. currency and properties located in Sioux Falls.
Bunker was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2021. He pleaded guilty on November 8, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on January 8, 2021, when Bunker knowingly made a false statement and report for the purpose of influencing the action of American Bank and Trust in connection with an application and loan under the Paycheck Protection Program. Bunker knew that to be eligible for a second draw loan under the Paycheck Protection Program, a 25% revenue reduction must exist in at least one quarter of 2020 as compared to that same quarter of 2019. In order to meet that reduction for Genuine Builders, Inc., Bunker worked with an employee to move certain invoices that had previously been classified as accruing in quarter four of 2020 into quarter three of 2020 in a profit and loss statement. By doing so, Bunker intended to falsely reduce Genuine Builders, Inc.’s reported revenue for quarter four of 2020, which then allowed Genuine Builders, Inc. to illustrate a more than 25% reduction in quarter four of 2020 as compared to quarter four of 2019. Bunker then utilized this information to submit an application to American Bank and Trust on or about January 8, 2021, seeking to obtain a second draw loan under the Paycheck Protection Program for Genuine Builders, Inc. in the amount of $1,318,023.00.
“This sentence sends a strong message that if you lie and cheat to gain access to government funds you will be held accountable, and as in Mr. Bunker’s case, you can go to jail,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock, St. Louis Field Office. “Along with our law enforcement partners, CI is committed to investigating as many pandemic fraud cases as possible to bring those who misused the programs to justice.”
This case was investigated by the FBI, the IRS, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Bunker was allowed to self-report at a future date.
Oregon Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for South Dakota Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Mount Angel, Oregon, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024.
Anthony Romeo Osuna, a/k/a “Romeo”, 25, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Osuna was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in December of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 26, 2024.
Osuna loaded multiple pounds of methamphetamine into hidden compartments in a Nissan Armada in Oregon and had his co-conspirators drive that Armada to Minnesota with the intention of distributing that methamphetamine in Minnesota and South Dakota. During this trip, Osuna remained in Oregon to further sell narcotics. On November 7, 2019, a co-conspirator was arrested after a Worthington, MN, police officer stopped the Nissan Armada and conducted a search of the vehicle, which resulted in the seizure of approximately eleven pounds of methamphetamine in a hidden compartment and two firearms.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Worthington Police Department, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Osuna was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead 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 Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024.
Vernon Robert Schmidt, a/k/a Sonny Bob Schmidt, age 38, was sentenced to two years and 11 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to a pay $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Schmidt was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 16, 2024.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on May 18, 2022, near Mission. On that date, law enforcement was looking for Schmidt based on an alleged domestic dispute that occurred earlier in the day at a residence near Mission. Schmidt was subsequently located at a different residence. A loaded 9 mm pistol was found in his possession.
Schmidt has three prior felony convictions in U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota. In 2005, he was convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer; in 2006, he was convicted of Escape; and in 2015, he was convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. As a result of these convictions, it is illegal for Schmidt to possess firearms or ammunition. Schmidt will forfeit ownership of the firearm to the United States.
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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Schmidt was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead 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 Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024.
Gary Drum, age 37, was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Drum was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in December of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 29, 2024.
On June 22, 2015, Drum was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in U.S. District Court, District of Montana. As a result of this conviction, Drum is required to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. In 2022, Drum was ordered to serve a jail sentence after a conviction in Fort Peck Tribal Court. Pursuant to a contract between the Fort Peck Sioux and Asiniboine Tribe and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Drum served his sentence at the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Adult Corrections Facility. Drum remained in the area after his release, initially residing at a residence in the North Antelope Community. On at least two separate occasions, Drum was arrested for tribal charges and served additional time in custody. Drum was last released from custody on October 31, 2023, and failed to update his address with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Sex Offender Registration Office within three business days.
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 and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Drum was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lower Brule Man Sentenced for Habitual Domestic Assault by an Habitual OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024.
Isaac Goodface, age 32, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Goodface was indicted by a federal grand jury in September of 2023. The defendant changed his plea to guilty on November 30, 2023.
The defendant was convicted of physically assaulting the same victim on two separate occasions in Lyman County, within the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation. In September of 2022, Goodface threw the victim on the ground, strangled her, struck her about the head and face, and prevented her from leaving the residence. In June of 2023, Goodface struck the victim on the face and pointed a gun at her during an argument.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Goodface was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Dupree Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead 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 Dupree, South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024.
Jayme Lee Rivers, also known as Jayme Lee Two Crow, age 44, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison, four months in a residential re-entry center, five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Rivers was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 29, 2024.
Rivers is required to register as a sex offender under federal law. Rivers had registered a homeless shelter in Rapid City as his primary address. He was kicked out of the shelter in April of 2023. Rivers chose not to update his registration until he moved from Rapid City to Dupree in late August of 2023.
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 U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Rivers was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
District of South Dakota Seizes 368 Illegal Firearms in 2023Read the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that over the course of 2023, federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies seized 368 firearms that were possessed in violation of federal law. In the same year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota charged approximately 93 defendants with illegally owning, possessing, using, or obtaining one or more such firearms.
“Through these firearm seizures, we are confident law enforcement agencies prevented countless violent and drug-related crimes from occurring in communities across South Dakota,” said U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is grateful for the strong law enforcement partnerships in South Dakota, which allow us to combine federal, state, and tribal resources to target some of the most dangerous individuals in our state and remove illegal firearms from our streets.”
Efforts to seize illegal firearms are the result of close cooperation between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), South Dakota State Highway Patrol, and numerous sheriff’s offices and police departments across the state, including Sioux Falls and Rapid City.
“Illegal firearms trafficking simply cannot be tolerated as it directly fuels violent crime within our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle, of the St. Paul Field Division. “We at ATF will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners across South Dakota to pursue these perpetrators of violence. We are grateful for the strong partnerships forged over the years that have led to these impactful investigations. We are also grateful for the U.S. Attorney’s Office here in South Dakota, which has been the essential catalyst in bringing these violent perpetrators to justice.”
“Maintaining strong partnerships within our law enforcement community is incredibly important to ensure successful firearm investigations like these,” said Jamie Holt, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul Special Agent in Charge. “Investigating and prosecuting organizations and individuals involved in these types of crimes results in safer communities with less gun violence.”
Some of the major firearms-related cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2023 include:
United States v. Sam Boyd—In the fall of 2020, Defendant began obtaining methamphetamine from a co-conspirator in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Defendant then distributed the methamphetamine to others for distribution. Throughout the conspiracy, Boyd routinely possessed multiple firearms and ammunition, despite being prohibited from doing so due to a prior felony conviction. Boyd proceeded to trial and a jury found him guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. Boyd was sentenced to 23 1/3 years in federal prison. The case was investigated by the DEA, ATF, and Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team.
United States v. Weston Clausen, Jaylen Ducheneaux, and Ford Traversie—Three Defendants burglarized Reloaders Corner, a licensed federal firearm retailer in Isabel in August of 2022. The three Defendants broke into the firearms business after hours and stole 105 firearms, ammunition, and other items. Some of the firearms were then illegally trafficked to other individuals. Several of the stolen firearms have been recovered in various communities in South Dakota, Colorado, and throughout the Midwest. Tragically, one gun was recovered at the scene of a suicide by a 17-year-old teenager. All three Defendants pleaded guilty to Theft of Firearms from a Federal Firearm Licensee and Third-degree Burglary. Traversie was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison; Clausen was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison; and Ducheneaux was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. All three Defendants were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $20,188 to the victim for the unrecovered firearms. The case was investigated by the Dewey County Sheriff’s office and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe law enforcement, as well as the ATF, BIA, and FBI.
United States v. Travene Tyrone Myers—Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2023, after having been reported of using a firearm to threaten his then girlfriend. When officers searched Myers’ vehicle, they located a fully loaded, semi-automatic pistol under the driver’s seat, which Myers, a previously convicted felon, admitted to possessing. Myers was sentenced to seven years and eight months in federal prison. The case was investigated by HSI, the Sioux Falls Police Department, and ATF.
United States v. Harold Salway, Jr.—Over a 13-month period, Defendant purchased at least 43 firearms, acting as a straw purchaser for many of the transactions. More than a dozen of these firearms later showed up in crimes committed in Rapid City and on the Pine Ridge Reservation, including two homicides, two suicides, and other shots-fired calls. Law enforcement also located several juveniles involved in criminal activity who were found to be in possession of firearms purchased by Salway. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawful user in possession of a firearm, use of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and false statement during the purchase of a firearm. The case was investigated by the ATF and the Rapid City Police Department.
United States v. Antoine Thomas—Defendant was arrested on February 10, 2022, in possession of nearly 550 grams of methamphetamine, 31 grams of M-30 pills containing fentanyl, multiple firearms, and ammunition. Thomas was previously convicted of robbery twice and also illegal possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty to multiple drug and firearms charges and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. The case was investigated by the FBI, ATF, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sioux Falls Police Department.
This District of South Dakota’s prosecution of illegal firearms 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 of Justice 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.
California and South Dakota Women Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine through the MailRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Harrison, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on April 15, 2024.
Anita M. Kenyon, 41, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Her co-conspirator, Deena Lee Rodriguez, 43, of Sacramento, California, was sentenced on May 25, 2023, to eight years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Kenyon and Rodriguez were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. Rodriguez pleaded guilty on March 14, 2023, and Kenyon pleaded guilty on July 19, 2023.
This conspiracy consisted of Rodriguez obtaining methamphetamine in California, then sending packages containing that methamphetamine in the mail to Kenyon in South Dakota. One of the suspicious drug-laden packages was seized by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and subsequently searched. Investigators learned that Kenyon and Rodriguez were involved in distributing approximately three quarters of a pound of methamphetamine in this manner.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Kenyon and Rodriguez were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after their respective sentencings.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead 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 Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on April 5, 2024.
Jason Kimmel, age 42, was sentenced to two 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.
Kimmel was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in November of 2023. He pleaded guilty on January 11, 2024.
Kimmel was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor on December 12, 2005. As a result of this conviction, Kimmel is required to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. On August 10, 2023, Kimmel registered with the Rapid City Police Department, providing an address in Rapid City as his residence. Kimmel left his registered address on August 28, 2023, and did not update his residence as required. Kimmel remained unregistered until he was arrested in Sioux Falls on September 16, 2023.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Kimmel was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Nebraska Man Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead 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 Stapleton, Nebraska, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on April 5, 2024.
Coenrad Jones, age 22, was sentenced to 18 days custody, followed by supervised release until the time he leaves the United States, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $2,100 in restitution.
Jones was indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 26, 2024.
Jones, a citizen of South Africa, had obtained a work visa and was employed with a farm in Nebraska. On February 1, 2022, shortly after 7:00 pm, Jones was driving westbound on Highway 18, east of Mission, South Dakota, returning to Nebraska after hauling a load of silage. Jones was operating a Freightliner semi, pulling an empty trailer. A Toyota Sienna was traveling in front of Jones. The Sienna was intending a left-hand turn towards the Sinte Gleska University apartments and was stopped in the roadway, waiting for eastbound traffic to clear. Jones was traveling above the posted speed limit of 45 mph and failed to respond in time to the Sienna in the road. Jones collided with the Sienna and a passenger in the van died as a result of the impact.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $1.9 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2023Read the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell, has reported the collection of $1,937,264.31 in criminal fines, restitution, loan defaults, bankruptcy, forfeiture, and affirmative civil enforcement efforts in FY 2023. Of the total collections, $1.5 million was derived from criminal cases. A significant portion of this, precisely $1,100,870.12, was returned to victims of crime, underscoring the Office’s commitment to ensuring justice and support for those victimized by crime. The remainder has been deposited into the Crime Victims Fund, a crucial federal resource that provides financial assistance to crime victims across the United States. This fund aids victims in covering various costs such as medical expenses, lost wages, mental health counseling, and funeral expenses.
“Our mission extends beyond the mere prosecution of criminal offenders,” said U.S. Attorney Ramsdell. “It’s about healing wounds and restoring dignity to those wronged through our dedication to facilitating the financial recovery for victims to the fullest extent possible. Seeing the tangible benefits of these collections for the victims is not just satisfying—it’s a profound reminder of the impact our office can have on the lives of victims seeking justice.”
Additionally, the fiscal year saw substantial collections from civil actions related to delinquent government loans, including those related to education, small businesses, agricultural services, and housing. The enforcement of healthcare fraud and False Claims Act litigation also contributed to these achievements. Notably, in a case of wool subsidy fraud, defendant Howard Aleff was mandated to sell Iowa farmland to satisfy a $1.3 million debt. Meanwhile, the discovery of valuable religious artifacts in a storage unit belonging to former priest Marcin Garbacz led to a unique online auction, recovering over $18,000 for the church he victimized.
These results were achieved through the concerted efforts of the entire team at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, from attorneys who secure criminal restitution and civil judgments to the financial litigation unit responsible for enforcing payment. The use of various enforcement mechanisms, including voluntary payment plans, garnishments, and the sale of seized assets, has been instrumental in these achievements.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota remains committed to upholding the principles of justice and integrity, as demonstrated by the FY 2023 collections. These efforts not only highlight the dedication of the office to its prosecutorial and enforcement responsibilities, but also its unwavering support for the victims whose lives are impacted by violent and financial crimes.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal PrisonRead 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 Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion and Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on April 8, 2024.
Johnny Ray Heath, 52, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on each charge, lifetime supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and restitution of $3,000 to each of the two victims. The prison sentences are to be served concurrently.
Heath was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty on December 15, 2023.
Heath was apprehended in January of 2023, when he traveled to a Rapid City parking lot to have sex with who he believed was a 14-year-old girl, when, in reality, the girl was an undercover Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent. Forensic analysis of Heath’s cell phone and other devices also revealed that he coerced his victims into engaging in sex with him by offering and providing them with alcohol, vapes, marijuana, money, and other things of value or to which they were addicted. Heath recorded himself sexually abusing his victims while they were unconscious or highly intoxicated.
“This case demonstrates the impact of undercover sex sting operations conducted by law enforcement in South Dakota,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota Alison J. Ramsdell. “The publicity generated by the arrest of Johnny Heath led a local victim to come forward after she learned of his arrest through the media. A second victim disclosed Heath’s abuse of her shortly thereafter. Perpetrators like Heath pose a grave threat to young children in our community, and he has earned every single day of his 40-year 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 Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Heath was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced on Child Pornography ChargeRead 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 Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 8, 2024.
Titus Amiotte, 23, was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $60,694.12 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Amiotte will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Amiotte was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in February of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 8, 2024.
Amiotte was federally indicted following law enforcement authority’s receipt of two Cybertips from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children reporting suspected child pornography uploads to Google. The South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce executed a search warrant on Amiotte’s residence and later forensically examined a laptop and cell phone that were identified as belonging to Amiotte. The forensic examination of those devices located 86 images and 27 videos of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Amiotte was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.