District of South Dakota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Iowa Man Sentenced for Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Fort Dodge, Iowa, man charged with Theft of Government Funds pleaded guilty to and was sentenced on December 18, 2023, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Clarence Soper, age 64, was sentenced to three years of probation, and ordered to pay $13,372 in restitution to the Social Security Administration and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
After a cancer diagnosis in 2010, Soper was awarded Title II Disability Insurance Benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). When Soper was advised of the receipt of benefits, he was also advised of significant life events that would need to be reported, such as any change in employment or medical status, as these changes may impact his benefits. SSA completed a review of Soper’s file in 2020 after Soper received a “cancer free” diagnosis. Based on the review, Soper was notified his benefits would cease in November. Soper requested a reconsideration and his benefits resumed in December. Soper remained cancer free and began working while his file was under reconsideration. Soper did not report his medical status nor his employment status to SSA while he continued to receive Disability Insurance Benefits.
The investigation was conducted by the Office of the Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler.
Fort Thompson Man Sentenced for 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 Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man convicted of Failing to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on December 18, 2023.
Michael Lovejoy, age 41, was sentenced to 21 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.
Lovejoy was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of 2022. He pleaded guilty on September 25, 2023.
Lovejoy is required to register as a sex offender under federal law. Lovejoy registered an address in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, with tribal authorities in early September of 2022 following his release from prison. In mid-September, Lovejoy moved to McLaughlin, South Dakota, where he disregarded several warnings from his probation officer and tribal authorities to update his registration. Lovejoy then absconded to Fort Thompson, South Dakota. Lovejoy did not update his registration until his arrest for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in May 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.
Lovejoy was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Final Defendant in Large Scale Family Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to over 22 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, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments.
Anahi Plascencia Cardona, 34, was sentenced on December 21, 2023, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, to 22 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Anahi’s husband, Salvador Magana Madrigal, age 41, was sentenced on August 7, 2023, to 33 years and four months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Oscar Madrigal, age 30, was sentenced on July 27, 2022, to 10 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. Oscar Madrigal is Salvador Magana Madrigal’s brother.
Rosa Elena Magana Madrigal, age 65, was sentenced on August 15, 2022, to five years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Rosa is the mother of Salvador Magana Madrigal and Oscar Madrigal.
Maria D. Magana-Zavala, age 53, was sentenced on December 27, 2022, to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Magana-Zavala is the sister of Rosa Madrigal.
William Burt Hartwick, age 54, was sentenced on November 21, 2022, to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Hartwick is the husband of Magana-Zavala.
All six defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in the summer of 2021. Oscar Madrigal pleaded guilty on April 4, 2022; Rosa Madrigal pleaded guilty on May 25, 2022; William Hartwick pleaded guilty on August 30, 2022; and Maria Magana-Zavala pleaded guilty on October 4, 2022. Salvador Magana Madrigal and Anahi Plascencia Cardona were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering following a four-day federal jury trial in Sioux Falls on May 2, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from activities that started when Salvador Madrigal and Anahi Cardona, who are husband and wife, recruited other members of Madrigal’s family to assist them in obtaining large amounts of methamphetamine from California and distributing it in Sioux Falls. Salvador Madrigal and Cardona recruited Madrigal’s aunt and uncle, Maria Magana Zavala and William Hartwick, to transport methamphetamine by vehicle from California. Eventually, Salvador’s brother Oscar became involved in the conspiracy by assisting his brother in transporting and counting shipments of methamphetamine. In total, they obtained and distributed over 150 pounds of methamphetamine and 100 pounds of marijuana throughout the duration of the conspiracy.
Salvador Madrigal, Jr. and Cardona, along with Salvador’s mother, Rosa Madrigal, also intentionally conspired to knowingly conduct wire/money transfers which involved the proceeds of unlawful activities. The group conducted numerous financial transactions intended to transfer the proceeds from methamphetamine sales while concealing the nature and ownership of the money. Agents believe the group laundered over $1,000,000 of drug proceeds. At the time of their arrest, Cardona and Madrigal had approximately $215,000 stored in the garage of their home.
“This multi-defendant conspiracy case is yet another example of the impactful work the U.S. Attorney’s Office is doing alongside its law enforcement partners to dismantle drug organizations in South Dakota,” said Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. “We are especially grateful to our partners in the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the IRS-Criminal Investigations for their collaboration to bring down this family drug operation that brought more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine into our communities.”
“A 265-month sentence sends a strong message that trafficking drugs into our communities will not be tolerated," said IRS Criminal Investigation’s (CI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Melissa McFadden, St. Louis Field Office. “When criminals launder their ill-gotten funds to hide the source of their crimes, the special agents of CI take pride in uncovering the money trail that leads to the source and helps put a stop to the drug trafficking operation.”
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
All defendants were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following their respective sentencings.
Eagle Butte 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 an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on December 18, 2023.
Rydell Iron Rope, age 50, was sentenced to two years and six months prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Iron Rope was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 15, 2023.
On September 30, 1996, Iron Rope was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. Iron Rope was subsequently convicted of Commission of a Sexual Offense While Registered as a Sexual Offender on June 16, 2008. As a result of these convictions, Iron Rope must maintain his registration for the rest of his life, including updating his registration within three business days of a change of residence address, employment, or student status. Iron Rope returned to Eagle Butte on April 10, 2023, after being convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in North Dakota. Iron Rope registered an address on the south side of Eagle Butte with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act Compliance Office. It was later discovered that Iron Rope had relocated to a different address in Eagle Butte without properly updating his registration.
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 Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Iron Rope was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eagle Butte 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 an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on December 19, 2023.
Raymond Leon Blue Arm, age 51, was sentenced to 20 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.
Blue Arm was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in September of 2023. He pleaded guilty on October 23, 2023.
In 1996, Blue Arm was convicted in North Dakota state court of Gross Sexual Imposition. In 2015, Blue Arm was convicted of Rape in Standing Rock Tribal Court. Both convictions require him to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment. In 2020, Blue Arm was convicted in U.S. District Court in North Dakota of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. In March of 2023, Blue Arm properly registered as a sex offender on the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota. By July of 2023, Blue Arm began residing in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, but he did not update his sex offender registration and remained out of compliance until August 7, 2023.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen 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 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.
Blue Arm was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
California Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead 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 Long Beach, California, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on December 18, 2023.
Jamaul Carter, a/k/a Mud, a/k/a Mudd Roll, age 35, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, followed by seven years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Carter was indicted by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on August 21, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from a drug conspiracy beginning in September of 2021 and continuing until November of 2022, when Carter was involved with several other individuals to distribute methamphetamine in and around the central South Dakota area, including on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Carter was the source of supply of methamphetamine in California for several individuals in South Dakota. Carter would ship multiple pound quantities or personally deliver multiple pound quantities of methamphetamine to these various individuals on the reservation where the drugs were then distributed on the reservation. During the course of the conspiracy Carter conspired to distribute over 100 pounds of methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the FBI’s Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Carter was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Box Elder Man Found Guilty of Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Vincent Alberto Barrios, age 42, of Box Elder, South Dakota, 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 following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on December 21, 2023.
The Sexual Exploitation charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years up to 30 years in custody; the Enticement charges carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in prison; and the Receipt of Child Pornography charges carry a mandatory minimum of five years up to 20 years in custody. Each conviction carries the possible maximum of a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Barrios was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2023.
Evidence at trial established that Barrios was arrested as a result of an 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 female 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, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, HSI, and the the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Waubay Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal OrganizationRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Waubay, South Dakota, woman convicted of Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization and Aiding and Abetting. The sentencing took place on December 11, 2023, in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Kayline Joy LaBelle, age 46, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $203,283.13 in restitution and $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
LaBelle was indicted for Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization and Aiding and Abetting by a federal grand jury in July 2023. She pleaded guilty on September 11, 2023.
According to court documents, between 2018 and 2022, LaBelle and others embezzled more than $150,000 belonging to the Buffalo Lake District of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe, an Indian Tribal Organization. LaBelle was aided and abetted by Elaine Blanche King, Duane Randy LaBelle, Jr., Jacenta Rae Varns, and Shayline Lena Max.
LaBelle was the elected treasurer of the Buffalo Lake District and stole checks from the tribal organization. LaBelle then cashed those stolen checks at various vendors, businesses, and casinos, and she also distributed those stolen checks to her co-defendants. LaBelle used the funds for personal expenditures and her use was unauthorized and unlawful. LaBelle served as the treasurer until she resigned in September 2022. Her conduct, acts, and omissions resulted in approximately $205,000 in losses to the district and tribe.
Elaine Blanche King and Jacenta Rae Varns have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. The cases against Duane Randy LaBelle, Jr. and Shayline Lena Max are pending in federal court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.
LaBelle will have to surrender on December 26, 2023, to begin serving her sentence.
This case was brought pursuant to the Guardians Project, a federal law enforcement initiative to coordinate efforts between participating agencies, to promote citizen disclosure of public corruption, fraud, and embezzlement involving federal program funds, contracts, and grants, and to hold accountable those who are responsible for adversely affecting those living in South Dakota’s Indian country communities. The Guardians Project is another step of federal law enforcement’s on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and positive action on behalf of tribal communities. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the participating agencies include: the FBI; the Offices of Inspector General for the Departments of Interior, Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Agriculture, Transportation, Education, Justice, and Housing and Urban Development; IRS Criminal Investigation; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.
For additional information about the Guardians Project, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (605) 330-4400. To report a suspected crime, please contact law enforcement at the federal agency’s locally listed telephone number.
Wanblee 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 Wanblee, South Dakota, man convicted of one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and two counts of Sexual Abuse. The sentencing took place on December 15, 2023.
Anthony Red Elk, 34, was sentenced to three terms of life imprisonment and ordered to pay a total of $300 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The life imprisonment sentences shall be served concurrently.
Red Elk was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in November of 2021. He was found guilty following a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, in July of 2023.
The convictions relate to Red Elk sexually assaulting a ten-year-old girl at Wanblee, on the Pine Ridge Reservation, while the young girl babysat Red Elk’s child in his home. Red Elk then sexually abused the same female in 2018 and again in 2019 at Wanblee, after she had reached the age of 18. Red Elk threatened her should she tell anyone and taunted her that no one would believe her if she came forward.
Red Elk previously worked at the Crazy Horse School in Wanblee as a basketball coach, bus driver, and custodian. He also worked in a juvenile detention facility. He was fired from the Crazy Horse School in January of 2019, for sending sexually explicit Facebook messages to a student.
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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted and tried the case.
Red Elk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sisseton Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact by ForceRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sisseton, South Dakota man, convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact by Force. The sentencing took place on December 11, 2023, in Pierre, South Dakota.
Ira Alan Arias, age 48, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Arias was indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child by a federal grand jury in April of 2018. He pleaded guilty on October 23, 2023.
According to court documents, on or about May 3, 2015, Arias forcefully engaged in three sexual acts with the victim, who was 14 years old at the time of the sexual abuse. The sexual abuse occurred in a hotel room in Codington County.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Arias was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Ideal Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead 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 Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The sentencing took place on December 11, 2023.
Braeden McLean, age 21, was sentenced to all time served through January 17, 2024, equal to approximately 10 months in custody, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
McLean was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 14, 2023.
The conviction stems from conduct that occurred in March of 2023 in Tripp County, South Dakota, wherein McLean engaged in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. The girl’s family subsequently became aware of the relationship and reported McLean to the Winner Police Department.
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 Winner Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson 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.
McLean was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Four Todd County Men Sentenced in Assaulting a Federal Officer CaseRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced four Todd County, South Dakota men in a case that involved charges of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
Kevin Bordeaux, age 24, of Mission, South Dakota, pleaded guilty on May 15, 2023, to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon; Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer; and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. On August 17, 2023, Bordeaux was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Carston Eagle Deer, age 22, of Rosebud, South Dakota, pleaded guilty on August 14, 2023, to two counts of Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer; and one count of Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. On November 13, 2023, he was sentenced to 10 years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crimes Victim Fund.
Gervis Fool Bull, age 29, of Mission, South Dakota, pleaded guilty on May 22, 2023, to Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer and Aiding and Abetting; and Obstructing Justice by Retaliating Against a Witness. On August 14, 2023, Fool Bull was sentenced to six 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.
Julian Moran, a/k/a Jullian Moran, age 29, of Mission, South Dakota, pleaded guilty on May 22, 2023, to Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer and Aiding and Abetting. On December 11, 2023, Moran was sentenced to all time served through December 21, 2023, equal to approximately 18 months in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The defendants were further ordered to pay restitution of $8,081.40, jointly and severally, for damage caused to a Tripp County Sheriff’s Office vehicle.
On the evening of July 6, 2022, Bordeaux got into a confrontation with his girlfriend at a residence in Todd County. Bordeaux produced a handgun and fired a single shot, striking his girlfriend in the area of her right hip. Bordeaux then departed the scene in a vehicle with Eagle Deer. A short time later, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services (RSTLES) officers responded to a call for service from a provider at the Rosebud Indian Health Service (IHS) Hospital in Rosebud, who reported a woman had just arrived at the hospital after being shot by Bordeaux. The officers obtained a description of Bordeaux’s vehicle but were not able to locate him that evening.
On the morning of July 8, 2022, RSTLES officers were patrolling in Mission when they observed Bordeaux’s vehicle parked near an apartment building. Moran was standing next to the vehicle, Bordeaux was in the driver seat, Eagle Deer was in the front passenger seat, and Fool Bull was in the rear passenger seat. The officers approached and ordered Moran to show his hands. Moran refused commands and instead got into the rear passenger seat of the vehicle. Bordeaux then started the vehicle and drove away. The RSTLES officers pursued Bordeaux’s vehicle at high speeds from Mission heading east on U.S. Highway 18. The pursuit continued onto a gravel road, at which point Bordeaux and Eagle Deer produced handguns and began firing at the pursuing officers. Bordeaux and Eagle Deer then threw their handguns out the window. As the pursuit approached Winner, South Dakota, the RSTLES officers coordinated with deputies from the Tripp County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) and officers from the Winner Police Department. Moran and Fool Bull threw items from the vehicle during the pursuit for the purpose of obstructing and interfering with the pursuing officers. During the pursuit, Bordeaux rammed a TCSO vehicle. The pursuit ended when a TCSO vehicle made contact with Bordeaux’s vehicle, causing it to spin out of control and into the ditch. All four defendants were placed under arrest.
On October 17, 2022, Fool Bull was in pretrial detention in the Winner City Jail when he approached another inmate and assaulted that inmate for providing information to law enforcement.
In January of 2023, Eagle Deer was on pretrial release when an arrest warrant was issued for violating the conditions of his release and absconding from supervision. Eagle Deer’s whereabouts were subsequently unknown until May 13, 2023. On the morning of May 13, 2023, a RSTLES officer was patrolling in Mission when he observed Eagle Deer’s vehicle. Eagle Deer attempted to drive away but became stuck. Eagle Deer ignored the officer’s commands to surrender and instead fled his vehicle on foot. The officer caught up to Eagle Deer after a short pursuit, but Eagle Deer physically resisted and attempted to put the officer in a headlock. The officer subsequently escorted Eagle Deer to the ground and placed him under arrest.
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, RSTLES, TCSO, and the Winner Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson 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.
Bordeaux, Eagle Deer, Fool Bull, and Moran were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at the conclusion of their individual sentencings.
Fort Thompson 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 Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on December 11, 2023.
Mark Fleury, age 48, was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Fleury was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 14, 2023.
Fleury was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in 2004. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment. On May 13, 2023, Fleury moved from his registered address in Fort Thompson to an address in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but he did not update his sex offender registration. Fleury moved back to Fort Thompson on or about May 31, 2023, at which time he updated his registration.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson 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.
Fleury was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Killing Three PeopleRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of three counts of First Degree Murder, three counts of Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, and one count of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on December 14, 2023.
Elijah West, age 26, was sentenced to life in prison on each count of First-Degree Murder and an additional ten years for each firearm charge, all to run consecutively. In total, West received three life sentences plus an additional 30 years’ custody. West was also ordered to pay a $700 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
In the evening hours of January 4 into the early hours of January 5, 2022, West entered a trailer near Wounded Knee, South Dakota, where a group of people had gathered around a kitchen table to visit. West briefly spoke with the group before he removed a firearm from his waistband and, completely unprovoked, fired upon and killed three innocent people. West then ordered a fourth person at gun point to find him a ride to a separate residence in Manderson, South Dakota. After arriving at that residence, West left with another individual. As soon as West left, the party called 911 to report the shooting. West was arrested in the early hours of January 5, 2022, and law enforcement recovered the murder weapon in his possession.
West was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2022 and was found guilty on all charges by a jury following a five-day jury trial in Rapid City in September 2023.
“This case stands out as a particularly heinous example of human depravity,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “The defendant committed unspeakable acts of violence for which no sentence would ever be sufficient, but we hope these three life sentences, which must be served consecutively, give the victims’ families some measure of closure as they grieve the senseless loss of their loved ones. We are grateful to our partners at the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s Department of Public Safety for their relentless investigative efforts.”
"It is our duty to bring justice and answers to grieving Tribal communities,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. “The investigation of West, and his life sentences, stand as a testament to the collaboration and dedication of the FBI, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, and the United States Attorney’s Office to bring justice to victims of violent crimes in Indian County. The FBI and its partners will investigate and hold accountable those who show such a callous disregard for innocent lives."
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins and Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
West was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Ft. Thompson Man Found Guilty of Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Loren Goodlow, age 34, of Ft. Thompson, South Dakota, of eight counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact, two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography, and Tampering with a Witness following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on December 7, 2023.
The defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years up to a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. Each count of conviction also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, a term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Goodlow was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2023.
Evidence at trial established that on March 18, 2023, Goodlow engaged in sexual acts with two minor females who had attained the age of 12 years old but not attained the age of 16 while on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Goodlow also enticed one of the minors in December of 2022 and engaged in sexual acts with the minor between December 26, 2022, and January 16, 2023. After the minor disclosed in March of 2023, Goodlow attempted to tamper with one of the witnesses over Facebook Messenger, by repeatedly telling the minor to recant the disclosure. The investigation also revealed that on December 8, 2021, Goodlow enticed another minor female and attempted to receive child pornography.
The acts of enticement and receipt of child pornography all occurred over the social media application of Snapchat.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for 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 an Eagle Butte, South Dakota man convicted of Second Degree Burglary. The sentencing took place on December 11, 2023.
Melvin Bagola III, age 23, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $5,760.67, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. The 12 month sentence of imprisonment runs consecutive to a seven month sentence imposed for Bagola’s violation of his federal supervised release in another case.
Bagola was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He pleaded guilty to Second Degree Burglary on July 10, 2023.
On September 15, 2022, Deputy U.S. Marshals attempted to arrest Bagola in Eagle Butte for violating his supervised release. When Bagola saw the deputy marshals, he fled into an occupied home and slammed the front door. When a deputy marshal entered the home to arrest him, Bagola leapt out an open window and sprinted into another occupied home. The deputy marshals set up a perimeter around the second house. Bagola refused to leave until the officers broke the home’s windows and prepared to saturate it with OC gas. Bagola then surrendered peaceably.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell Presents at White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C.Read the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS – Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota and Chair of the Attorney General’s Native American Issues Subcommittee, participated in a panel discussion at the White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on December 6, 2023. The panel, moderated by Deb Haaland, Secretary of the United States Department of Interior, focused on the Department of Justice’s engagement with tribes throughout the nation, as well as the Department’s response to recently published recommendations of the Not Invisible Act Commission (NIAC).Speaking at the Tribal Nations Summit, U.S. Attorney Ramsdell noted it has long been a priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates of Indigenous persons reported missing. The Department does so through the work of U.S. Attorney’s Offices (USAOs), which assign Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) to prosecute federal crimes occurring in Indian country. Working with federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement, AUSAs prosecute a range of violent crime, including murder, assault, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, as well as drug trafficking. USAOs further serve Indian country by convening monthly Multidisciplinary Team meetings to address cases involving child abuse with various community stakeholders, including law enforcement, social services providers, and medical personnel. At the invitation of tribal leadership, local law enforcement, and school administrators, USAOs also conduct extensive outreach with tribal partners, from addressing tribal councils and assisting in training efforts to making presentations at school assemblies.
As it relates to the topic at the center of the NIAC’s Report—Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP)—U.S. Attorney Ramsdell discussed the newly created MMIP Regional Outreach Program, which permanently places Assistant U.S. Attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the nation. USAOs will support the MMIP Regional Outreach Program and leverage the MMIP AUSAs and Coordinators to assist in resolving cases where federal jurisdiction exists and bridging gaps in communication that sometimes develop between federal, tribal, state, and local partners when an Indigenous person is reported missing.
U.S. Attorney Ramsdell also discussed the fact that all USAOs in federal judicial districts with Tribal lands, including Public Law 280 states, implemented Savanna’s Act guidelines in the Spring of 2022. These are law enforcement guidelines regarding interjurisdictional cooperation among law enforcement in cases related to missing persons. They set forth best practices in conducting missing persons searches; establish standards for the collection, reporting, and analysis of MMIP data and human remains; and ensure access to culturally appropriate victim services. Finally, U.S. Attorney Ramsdell discussed the Department’s work with individual tribes to develop Tribal Community Response Plans, which are cross-jurisdictional protocols that govern law enforcement responses to reports of missing persons within a Tribal community. Importantly, the process, which involves local and federal partners, is led by Tribes. This leadership role allows Tribes to incorporate culturally appropriate protocols in every aspect of their plans. USAOs and the MMIP Regional Outreach Program will support and assist Tribal communities who choose to develop their own TCRPs.
Wounded Knee Man Sentenced to 30 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 Wounded Knee, South Dakota, man convicted of Aiding and Abetting Second Degree Murder. The sentencing took place on December 1, 2023.
Spencer High Hawk, 27, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
He was found guilty of Aiding and Abetting Second Degree Murder on September 8, 2023, following a four-day federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The conviction stems from High Hawk beating another man to death near Wounded Knee in June of 2022.
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 Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced for Assault of an Intimate PartnerRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault of an Intimate Partner Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on December 4, 2023.
Elias Glen Sims, age 19, was sentenced to two years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Sims was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2023. A Superseding Information was filed, and the defendant pleaded guilty on September 11, 2023.
The defendant was convicted of physically abusing his pregnant girlfriend in McLaughlin. On May 10, 2023, the defendant became angry and struck the victim about the body, strangled her, and punched her in the stomach. The defendant was 24 weeks pregnant at the time of the assault.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Sims was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
California Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Custody for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced an Arvin, California, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl, Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Use of a Communication Facility in the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Crime. The sentencing took place on December 4, 2023.
Victor Leon-Pacheco, 33, was sentenced to 30 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. The federal sentence runs consecutive to his remaining sentence in Oklahoma.
Leon-Pacheco was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in June of 2022. He was found guilty after a three-day federal jury trial concluding on September 7, 2023.
Leon-Pacheco is formerly from California. In 2016 he was convicted of trafficking methamphetamine in Oklahoma and sentenced to 18 years custody. While in a locked facility, he gained access to a contraband cell phone which he utilized to conduct drug trafficking activities. He arranged drug sales to people in several states, including South Dakota. Leon-Pacheco then recruited others in California, including co-defendant Eduardo Acosta, to accept payments for drug proceeds that were wired through money exchange services. This occurred multiple times between September of 2021 and January of 2022. Acosta also sent packages containing controlled substances to South Dakota at the direction of Leon-Pacheco. Law enforcement was able to introduce an undercover agent to whom Leon-Pacheco organized three shipments of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Leon-Pacheco’s co-defendant, Eduardo Acosta, was sentenced to 37 months in custody on August 11, 2023.
“This trial conviction and resulting sentence should send a clear message to out-of-state drug traffickers who think they can get away with distributing lethal drugs in South Dakota,” said Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. “I am grateful to the many investigative agencies who participated in this case through the local Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team and worked collaboratively to ensure Victor Leon-Pacheco remains in custody for another thirty years.”
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, which is a local drug task force 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, as well as the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Leon-Pacheco was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Waubay Man Sentenced for Escaping from CustodyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Waubay, South Dakota, man convicted of Escape from Custody. The sentencing took place on November 28, 2023.
Levi Ambrose Locke, age 32, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Locke was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 25, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on April 13, 2023, when Locke was in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons at Dismas Charities, an institutional facility located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Locke was at Dismas Charities based on a felony conviction. On April 13th, Locke left Dismas Charities to go work his shift at his place of employment, but instead of going to work, Locke escaped and did not return to the facility that same day as required.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Locke was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Carjacking and Use and Brandishing of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of ViolenceRead 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 Commit Carjacking and Use and Brandishing of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence. The sentencing took place on November 30, 2023, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Jose Uribe, age 26, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $200 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Uribe was indicted for Carjacking, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on September 11, 2023.
According to court documents, on or about the 31st day of May of 2022, Uribe, working with two others, was given a ride by another individual. During the ride, Uribe pointed a shotgun at that person and demanded the person get out of the car. Uribe and the other two conspirators then drove away in the car, later fleeing from law enforcement in the vehicle and on foot.
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 Connie Larson prosecuted the case.
Uribe was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Sioux Falls Man Convicted of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Armando Cheshier, age 25, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death and two counts of Distribution of a Controlled Substance following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Fall. The verdict was returned on November 22, 2023.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in custody and/or a $1,000,000 fine, life on supervised release, and a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Cheshier was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2022.
Cheshier distributed fentanyl and Xanax to the victim in this case, which ultimately resulted in her death, due to the fatal amounts of fentanyl in her system. The defendant and victim in this case were friends and had spent the night together, after both ingested multiple illegal narcotic substances. The defendant awoke the next day to find the victim lying lifeless in his bed. After traveling across town to obtain Narcan to administer to the victim, the authorities were then called, and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene. An interview of the defendant following the incident revealed that he had not only provided the fentanyl that caused the overdose, but that he had also ingested the remaining pills prior to authorities arriving at the scene.
“According to lab testing, seven out of every ten fentanyl pills contain a lethal dose of this deadly controlled substance,” said Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. “So when Armando Cheshire provided the victim a fentanyl pill, he essentially gave her a death sentence. We are fortunate to have law enforcement partners such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sioux Falls Police Department that will investigate these difficult cases and help us hold accountable those who carelessly distribute this lethal drug. This prosecution also serves as a stark reminder that as a community, it is imperative we educate our loved ones on the dangers of fentanyl so that we can avoid the tragic loss of young lives.”
“Armando Cheshire faces countless hours in federal prison to reflect on the tragic consequences that came as a result of his actions,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King said. “Two milligrams of fentanyl, small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered potentially lethal. We need to raise awareness of the threat this drug poses to our communities if we want to prevent futures deaths such as this one from occurring.”
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has been set for February 9, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Allen 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 an Allen, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on November 29, 2023.
Llewellyn John Running Hawk, age 48, was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Additional restitution may apply.
Running Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 6, 2023.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on November 19, 2022, in Todd County, South Dakota. On that date, Running Hawk had been consuming alcoholic beverages, and was driving a motor vehicle eastbound on US Highway 18. The victim, an adult female, was riding in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. As Running Hawk approached a curve at a high rate of speed, he lost control of the vehicle and left the roadway. The vehicle rolled multiple times, causing the victim to be ejected from the vehicle. The victim died as a result of injuries suffered in the wreck.
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.
Running Hawk was ordered to self-surrender to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons at a date to be set later.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Conspiring to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - 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 Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl. The sentencing took place on November 29, 2023.
John Hansen, age 64, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hansen was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 13, 2023.
Hansen and his daughter, Aubrey, had a source for fentanyl pills in Colorado. On multiple occasions between the summer of 2022 and January of 2023, they traveled to Colorado and brought back thousands of pills, which were then sold to people in Rapid City for use or for further distribution. Overall, Hansen was responsible for bringing between 400 grams and 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl to the Rapid City area. Hansen had several other people assisting him, including his daughter. Each fentanyl pill is approximately 1/10th of a gram of fentanyl and one pill is approximately two dosage units.
Aubrey Hansen was previously sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for her role in the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, which is a local drug task force 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 Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Hansen was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - 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 Possession of Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on November 28, 2023.
Ahmed Belhage, 27, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Belhage was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 11, 2023.
In April of 2023, in Rapid City, Belhage, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, was found in possession of a Savage Arms semi-automatic rifle, which was found after Belhage came into contact with law enforcement.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Belhage was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Second-Degree Murder. The sentencing took place on November 28, 2023.
Trent Brewer, age 21, was sentenced to 16 and a half 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.
Brewer was indicted for Second Degree Murder and Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 28, 2023.
The conviction stems from Brewer shooting another man after a verbal argument on April 1, 2023, in Pine Ridge. The victim succumbed to his 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 FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Brewer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Arizona Man Sentenced to 45 Years is the Last Co-Conspirator Sentenced in a Multi-Defendant International 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 Kingman, Arizona, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on November 27, 2023.
Rusty James Driscoll, 39, was sentenced to 45 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.
Driscoll was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. He was found guilty by a federal jury on August 4, 2023.
In 2022, Driscoll, and at least 17 other co-conspirators, who were all previously indicted and sentenced, were involved in a large-scale multiple pound methamphetamine conspiracy stretching from Mexico, Arizona, Louisiana, then finally making its way to South Dakota. Driscoll had a direct connection to import methamphetamine from a source in Mexico. He coordinated shipments of methamphetamine to co-conspirators in South Dakota and Louisiana, who then distributed it to others in those areas.
Agents identified the South Dakota cell leader of this organization as Christopher Daniels, who previously received a sentence of 30 years for his involvement in the conspiracy. Daniels obtained methamphetamine from Sean Gross, who lived in Arizona and sourced methamphetamine from Driscoll. Gross was sentenced to 26 years and eight months in prison for his involvement. In addition to Daniels in South Dakota, Gross and Driscoll also sent multiple pounds of methamphetamine to Jessica Johnson in Louisiana. Johnson received a sentence of 14 years for her involvement. Agents determined that Daniels was personally responsible for distributing at least 120 pounds of methamphetamine in South Dakota. Driscoll played a lead role in this conspiracy and was responsible for directing the quantities, prices, payments, and shipments of multiple multi-pound deliveries of methamphetamine to South Dakota and elsewhere.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS, SD Division of Criminal Investigation, SD Highway Patrol, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Driscoll was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Wagner Woman Sentenced for Multiple Abuse CountsRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol has sentenced a Wagner, South Dakota, woman convicted of six counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and two counts of Felony Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on November 27, 2023.
Tina Sully, age 53, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $800.
Sully was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2022. She was found guilty of six counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and two counts of Felony Child Abuse, following a four-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on September 15, 2023.
Sully was a foster and adoptive mother to several children. The jury convicted her of unlawfully assaulting and cruelly punishing two of them, including beating them with belts and hangers and withholding food from them for days, between the years of 2003 and 2021.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Yankton Sioux Law Enforcement, and the Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ann M. Hoffman and Elizabeth Ebert 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.
Sully was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. Chief District Judge Roberto Lange has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine. The sentencing took place on November 27, 2023.
Carlie Wolf, 25, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Wolf was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. She pleaded guilty on September 15, 2023.
Based on a previous relationship, Wolf had a source for obtaining cocaine in Colorado. Beginning late in 2022, Wolf began travelling to Colorado to purchase ounces of cocaine, which she then brought back to Rapid City. Wolf then sold the cocaine in Rapid City to others for use and further distribution. Wolf did this on at least four occasions which amounted to at least 700 grams of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Wolf was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 20 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 Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on November 27, 2023.
Michael Douglas McKillip, 33, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for the Sexual Exploitation conviction to run consecutively to five years in federal prison for the Child Pornography conviction, followed by seven years of supervised released. McKillip was also ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution, a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
McKillip was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in April of 2022. He pleaded guilty on August 23, 2023.
McKillip was federally indicted following a Cybertip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children in relation to a download of suspected child pornography on McKillip’s Microsoft account. The Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce executed a search warrant on McKillip’s residence and located multiple electronic storage devices. A forensic examination of those devices found thousands of images of child pornography, as well as multiple minors McKillip had direct communications with and from whom he sought images 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 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. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
McKillip was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - 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 Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on November 27, 2023.
Eric Jaramillo, 35, was sentenced to 15 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.
Jaramillo was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in July of 2021. He pleaded guilty on August 18, 2023.
Between March and June of 2021, in Rapid City, Jaramillo conspired with two other individuals to distribute methamphetamine by assisting in coordinating large quantities to be brought from California to South Dakota for further distribution.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Jaramillo was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - 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 Possession of Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on November 27, 2023.
Gassem Belhage, 26, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Belhage was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in June 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 21, 2023.
In April of 2023, in Rapid City, Belhage, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, was found in possession of a loaded Sturm, Ruger & Company Incorporated, model AR-556 caliber, semi-automatic rifle, along with two loaded 26 round magazines for the rifle, which were found after Belhage came into contact with law enforcement during a traffic stop.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Belhage was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
South Dakota Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on November 20, 2023, in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Marcus Lance Dumarce, age 54, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Dumarce was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 28, 2023.
According to court documents, Dumarce was convicted in federal court of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor in April of 2003. Between December 20, 2018, and June 15, 2023, Dumarce left the residence at which he had been registered in Roberts County, South Dakota, and knowingly failed to register as a sex offender. He is required to register for life due to the previous conviction.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Dumarce was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Sisseton Man Pleads Guilty to Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Jay Adams, Jr., age 57, of Sisseton, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on November 20, 2023, and pleaded guilty to a Superseding Information that charged him with Voluntary Manslaughter.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, and a $50 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
In 1992, in Roberts County, Adams killed a minor victim, in the heat of passion, by inflicting fatal blunt force trauma to her head. Adams has 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 this year, new evidence came to light which implicated Adams in the death of the victim.
“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 this work offers some measure of closure to victims’ families and helps honor the sacred memory of missing and murdered Indigenous persons.”
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s newly created Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of victims and their families despite the passage of time.
The investigation was conducted by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police Department and the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Great Plains Region Troy R.
Morley.A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for June 3, 2024, in Aberdeen
South Dakota. Adams was ordered to self-surrender to U.S. Marshals custody by 2:00 p.m. on
December 11, 2023.McLaughlin Man Sentenced for Simple AssaultRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Simple Assault. The sentencing took place on November 20, 2023.
Martin Tre Black Cloud, age 20, was sentenced to six months in federal prison and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $10.
Black Cloud was indicted by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He was convicted of Simple Assault following a two-day jury trial on August 8, 2023.
The evidence at trial showed that Black Cloud was drinking alcohol with his stepfather on June 22, 2022, in McIntosh, South Dakota. Black Cloud quarreled with his stepfather and assaulted him, resulting in his stepfather’s hospitalization. Black Cloud then apologized to his stepfather, injured himself with a knife, and fled.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Aberdeen Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Obstructing a Federal Court ProceedingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced an Aberdeen, South Dakota, man convicted of Tampering with a Witness. The sentencing took place on November 20, 2023, in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Jordan Anthony Rondell, age 36, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rondell was indicted for Tampering with a Witness by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty to on August 8, 2023.
According to court documents, between January 26, 2023, and continuing through February 6, 2023, Rondell intentionally harassed another person in an effort to prevent and dissuade that person from assisting in a federal court proceeding. During the relevant time period of this case, Rondell was on federal supervised release, following his federal conviction of conspiracy to steal from a tribally owned casino. In late January of 2023, Rondell filed a motion seeking release to the custody of his spouse to address a medical issue. At a hearing on February 1, 2023, the Court heard testimony from Rondell’s spouse. His spouse’s testimony was, in material part, false, and Rondell intentionally and corruptly harassed his spouse to offer that false testimony in an effort to get him released from federal custody.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Rondell was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Two North Dakota Women Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead 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 West Fargo, North Dakota, woman and a Raleigh, North Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencings took place on November 14, 2023.
Kerstyn Lanz, age 31, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Monica Yellow Bird, age 40, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
The convictions stemmed from a drug conspiracy in December of 2022 wherein Lanz and Yellow Bird knowingly and intentionally agreed with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Lanz, Yellow Bird, and their two co-defendants were arrested while at a gas station in Oacoma, South Dakota. Their vehicles were searched and approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine was found in vacuum sealed bags wrapped as Christmas presents. The defendants were transporting the methamphetamine from a source in Las Vegas, Nevada, to North Dakota for further distribution. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance.
Co-defendant Abdul Vann was previously sentenced to thirteen years in prison, and co-defendant Samuel Vann was previously sentenced to one year in prison.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Northern Plains Safe Trains Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Lanz and Yellow Bird were allowed to self-report on November 27, 2023.
Two Eagle Butte Men and One Dupree Man Sentenced for Theft of Firearms and 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 three South Dakota men convicted of Theft of Firearms from Federal Firearm Licensee and Third-Degree Burglary. The sentencings took place on October 10, 2023, and November 15, 2023, respectively.
Jaylen Bleu Ducheneaux, a/k/a Jaylen Red Bear, age 24, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Weston Reid Clausen, age 24, of Dupree, South Dakota, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Ford Whitley Traversie, age 23, of Eagle Butte, was sentenced to three years and four 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 $200.
All three defendants were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $20,188 to the victim of this matter, and the restitution was ordered to be paid joint and several between the co-defendants.
Clausen, Ducheneaux, and Traversie were indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2023. Traversie pleaded guilty on June 14, 2023; Ducheneaux pleaded guilty on August 3, 2023; and Clausen pleaded guilty on August 21, 2023.
The convictions stemmed from an incident that occurred during the weekend of August 13 to 15, 2022, when the defendants burglarized Reloaders Corner, a licensed federal firearm retailer in Isabel, South Dakota. Ducheneaux and Clausen planned the burglary while Traversie served as a lookout during the burglary. The three men stole 105 firearms. Some of the firearms were then illegally trafficked to other individuals. The stolen firearms have been recovered in various communities in South Dakota and throughout the Midwest.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Dewey County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges 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.
Clausen, Ducheneaux, and Traversie were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Todd County 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 Todd County, South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on November 14, 2023.
Julian One Star, age 36, was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
One Star was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 10, 2023.
In October of 2022, One Star was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court. This conviction requires One Star to comply with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, including updating his registration within three business days of a change in residence address, employment status, or student status. Prior to One Star completing his jail sentence, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Sex Offender and Notification Act Compliance Officers met with One Star to complete his initial registration. One Star failed to update his registration after being released from custody on November 18, 2022, and his whereabouts were unknown until he was arrested on June 30, 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.
One Star 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 November 13, 2023, in Sioux Falls.
Elijah Darrell Lane, age 21, was sentenced to one year and six months federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Lane was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. He pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person on August 30, 2023.
According to court documents, on November 29, 2022, Lane, a convicted felon, knowingly had possession of a firearm.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case.
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.
Lane was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Rapid City Man Convicted at Jury Trial of Conspiring to Sell Methamphetamine and Illegal Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Sam Boyd, age 35, of Rapid City, South Dakota, of Conspiracy to Distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Felon in Possession of Ammunition following a four-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City. The verdict was returned on November 2, 2023.
The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in custody and a maximum penalty of life in custody and a $10,000,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Boyd was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2022.
In the fall of 2020, Boyd began obtaining methamphetamine from a co-conspirator in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The methamphetamine was either mailed or transported to western South Dakota on multiple occasions. Boyd then distributed the methamphetamine to others for use and to further sell. Throughout the conspiracy, Boyd routinely possessed multiple firearms and ammunition, despite being legally prohibited from doing so due to a prior felony conviction.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, which is local drug task force 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 Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Parmelee Man Convicted of Three Crimes in Two Separate TrialsRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Jeremy Duane Young, age 28, of Parmelee, South Dakota, has been convicted following two separate jury trials. Young was convicted of Possession of Unregistered Firearm and Possession of Firearm by a Prohibited Person following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Pierre, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on October 31, 2023. Young was then convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Pierre, South Dakota. That verdict was returned on November 3, 2023.
The Firearm charges each carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The Assaulting a Federal Officer charge carries a maximum penalty of eight years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Young was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2023 on the firearm offenses and in April of 2023 on the assault offense.
In May of 2022, in the Soldier Creek community within the Rosebud Reservation, Young, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, was found in possession of a short-barrel 12-gauge shotgun, which was found after Young came into contact with law enforcement following a traffic stop. The short shotgun was not registered to Young in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by law. As part of the investigation Young admitted to law enforcement that he and another individual were on their way to Sioux Falls on a drug run to pick up methamphetamine.
In March of 2023, in the Soldier Creek community within the Rosebud Reservation, Young assaulted a Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Officer. The officer had been called to the community over a concern of a running vehicle blocking the roadway, and determined Young was passed out in the driver’s seat. When the officer contacted Young to get out of the vehicle, Young refused to exit, became argumentative, combative, and engaged in a physical struggle with the officer. Young then punched the officer in the face and fled on foot. Young was located and arrested an hour later.
The investigation into Young 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.
These cases were investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan N. Dilges and Brian Murphy prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for January 29, 2024. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead 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, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on November 13, 2023.
Georgette Long Warrior, age 46, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Long Warrior was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2023. She pleaded guilty on August 7, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from a drug conspiracy beginning in September of 2021 and continuing until January of 2023, when Long Warrior was involved with several other individuals to distribute methamphetamine in and around the central South Dakota area, including on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Long Warrior received pound quantities of methamphetamine from a source in California and then distributed the methamphetamine to various individuals on the reservation. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Long Warrior 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 November 13, 2023.
Anthony Little Hoop, age 33, was sentenced to 22 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Little Hoop was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 17, 2023.
Little Hoop was convicted of Sexual Abuse in 2012. As a result of this conviction, he his required to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, including updating his registration within three business days of a change in residence address, employment status, or student status. Little Hoop last registered with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Sex Offender Registry Office on July 29, 2022, providing an address in Mission. Little Hoop left his registered address in November and did not update his registration after moving. His whereabouts were unknown until he was arrested in an abandoned apartment in Mission.
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.
Little Hoop was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead 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 Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on November 13, 2023.
Wilson Brave Heart, age 51, was sentenced to 13 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.
Brave Heart was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. He was found guilty following a jury trial that concluded on August 16, 2023.
On March 11, 2023, Brave Heart was arrested by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services officers and charged with domestic abuse. He was then transported by an officer to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Adult Correctional Facility. While he was completing intake processing at the Adult Correctional Facility, Brave Heart spit in the face of the arresting officer.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Brave Heart was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission 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 Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation and Suffocation. The sentencing took place on November 6, 2023.
Bobbylee Hill, age 21, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hill was indicted for Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation and Suffocation by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 3, 2023.
Hill and the victim began dating in January of 2022 and were residing together in Mission in November of 2022. On the evening of November 24, Hill became upset after going through the victim’s phone. The verbal argument escalated to a physical confrontation and Hill threw the victim onto a bed. Hill positioned himself on top of the victim, placed both of his hands on the victim’s neck, and applied pressure. The victim was unable to talk and had difficulty breathing as Hill applied pressure. Hill stopped after the victim waved her arms. The victim fled from the residence and called 911 after Hill assaulted her a second time.
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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Hill was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Man Incarcerated in a California State Prison Sentenced to over 33 Years for a Meth, Fentanyl and Money Laundering Conspiracy in South DakotaRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Kern Valley, California, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments. The sentencing took place on November 13, 2023.
Terry Morris, Jr., age 41, was sentenced on a Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance charge to 33 years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was then sentenced on the Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments charge to 22 years in federal prison. Both sentences will run concurrently with one another but consecutive to his sentence in California. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Morris was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 30, 2023.
Morris created and orchestrated a drug trafficking organization from his prison cell within the Kern Valley State Prison in California, where he was incarcerated for murder. Using a cell phone which had been smuggled in, Morris communicated by call, text, and social media with members of his family, along with numerous other co-defendants from both South Dakota and California, in order to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area. Morris is attributed with distributing at least 200 pounds of methamphetamine and 80,000 fentanyl pills during his involvement in this conspiracy, drugs that were known to be sourced from Mexican cartels.
“This is one of two major federal drug sentences handed down this week in South Dakota,” said Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. “In this instance, the defendant orchestrated the movement of enormous amounts of deadly substances into our communities, leaving a trail of devastation without ever stepping foot in South Dakota himself. Although independently noteworthy, collectively, these sentences should send a resounding message to drug traffickers—targeting South Dakota communities for the sale of methamphetamine and fentanyl will result in grave personal consequences. As this case demonstrates, drug traffickers will be relentlessly pursued by local and federal law enforcement and aggressively prosecuted in federal court.”
Others that have been charged as part of this conspiracy include Rigoberto Hernandez, age 32, of Los Angeles, California, who was sentenced on May 1, 2023, to 11 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release; Reginald Davis, age 41, of Los Angeles, California, who was sentenced on May 26, 2023, to 17 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release; Kessara Mikkelson, age 35, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who was sentenced on October 30, 2023, to 19 years and seven months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release; and Asia Gunhammer, age 31, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who was sentenced on October 30, 2023, to 10 years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. All defendants were also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The case against Terry Morris, III, who is also facing charges of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, is still pending in the District of South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Sioux Falls Police Department, and the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Morris, Jr. was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lower Brule Man Sentenced for Voluntary ManslaughterRead 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 Voluntary Manslaughter following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Pierre, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on July 20, 2023, and the sentencing took place on November 6, 2023.
Joseph Thompson, Sr., age 32, was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Thompson was also ordered to pay $3,550 in restitution to the victim’s family.
Thompson was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2023 and was convicted in July of 2023.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on March 25, 2023, in Lower Brule. Thompson was at the home of an acquaintance when he heard a disturbance outside the residence. Thompson left the residence, walked around the corner of the home, and saw a man standing near the home. Thompson produced a knife and stabbed the man five times, piercing his heart. There was no indication that the other man was displaying a weapon when Thompson fatally stabbed him.
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 Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services - Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
The defendant was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.
Fort Thompson Man Sentenced for Assaulting, Resisting, and Opposing a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Opposing a Federal Officer in Pierre, South Dakota. The sentencing took place on November 6, 2023.
Derek Kennedy, age 43, was sentenced to 45 days in federal prison and eight months of home confinement, followed by three years of supervised release. Kennedy was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Kennedy was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2023 and pled guilty in August of 2023.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on July 12, 2022, in Lower Brule. Kennedy was arrested for unrelated tribal offenses on the same date. As he was being booked into the Lower Brule jail, Kennedy became combative and attempted bite a federal officer on the arm and spit in the officer’s face.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Service - Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
The defendant was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.