District of South Dakota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Fort Thompson Man Sentenced for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead 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 two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child. The sentencing took place on November 6, 2023.
Jeffery Pickner, age 47, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Kennedy was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Pickner was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2022 and pleaded guilty in August of 2023.
The convictions stem from incidents that occurred between 1994 and 1996 in Crow Creek housing, in Buffalo County, South Dakota. Pickner repeatedly and continuously sexually abused a young boy in the community. The victim did not immediately disclose the abuse.
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 FBI. 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.
Federal Jury Convicts Sisseton Man for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child and Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal jury has convicted Thomas Avery Drum, age 59, of Sisseton, South Dakota, of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child and Abusive Sexual Contact following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on November 15, 2023.
Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child carries a mandatory minimum of 30 years and a maximum penalty of up to life in custody; Abusive Sexual Contact carries any term of years and a maximum penalty of up to life in custody. Each conviction carries the possible maximum of a $250,000 fine, and a required a mandatory minimum of five years to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Drum was indicted by a federal grand jury in October of 2022.
According to evidence presented at trial, between August of 2014 and August of 2015, Drum knowingly engaged in at least one sexual act and contact with a child under the age of 12. The sexual abuse took place at Drum’s residence on the Lake Traverse Reservation near the town of Sisseton. At the time of the abuse, Drum was approximately 50 years of age, while the victim was seven.
This case was investigated by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe’s Law Enforcement and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has been set for May 20, 2024. Drum was ordered to self-surrender on November 27, 2023.
El Salvador Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison following Trial Convictions for his Role in Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced an El Salvador man and a Victorville, California, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencings took place on November 13, 2023, in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Edwin Giovanni Salinas, age 44, was sentenced to life in prison. He was ordered to pay $200 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Berta Rosmelvi Gonzales, age 33, was sentenced to three years and five months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Salinas and Gonzales were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. Gonzales pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance on July 10, 2023. On July 19, 2023, Salinas was found guilty at trial of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
According to evidence admitted at trial, on November 26, 2022, Salinas and Gonzales were pulled over during a traffic stop. During a search of the vehicle, approximately 16 pounds of fentanyl was found. The fentanyl was contained in 12 packages – two containing powder weighing 3.5 pounds and another 10 containing approximately 50,000 pills. The 10 separate packages contained small blue pills marked “M” on one side and “30” on the other, apparent counterfeit “M-30” pills containing fentanyl. The fentanyl was mixed with a horse tranquilizer. The approximate street value of the drugs was estimated at $2,000,000.
“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug our communities have ever faced,” said Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. “It is almost fifty times more potent than heroin, and just two milligrams - an amount that can fit on the tip of a pencil - is enough to kill an average adult. So when this defendant trafficked more than 50,000 fentanyl pills and 3.5 pounds of fentanyl powder into our state, he brought enough poison to wipe out the entire population of South Dakota. It is therefore paramount that we continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute the trafficking of fentanyl, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to doing so alongside our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners.”
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. Laboratory testing indicates seven out of every 10 fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contained a lethal dose of fentanyl.
During the sentencing of Salinas, the Court stated that his conduct was “reprehensible,” citing the lethality of the controlled substances and the likely intended location of where a portion of the fentanyl was headed – tribal lands. The Court noted that this case involved the largest ever fentanyl seizure and prosecution in the state.
This case was investigated by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux’s Law Enforcement, Roberts County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy R. Jehangiri and Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.
Salinas and Gonzales were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving their sentences.
Eagle Butte Woman Sentenced for LarcenyRead 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, woman convicted of Larceny. The sentencing took place on November 15, 2023.
Jacie Toki, age 30, was sentenced to three months in federal prison, followed by eighteen months of supervised release. She was further ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Toki was indicted for Larceny by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. She pleaded guilty on August 17, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from Toki stealing a police vehicle belonging to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services after a roadside encounter with law enforcement near Lantry, South Dakota, on February 28, 2023. Toki drove the vehicle away from the scene and left it in a ditch outside of Lantry.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Toki was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on November 6, 2023.
Anthony Lawrence Collins, age 40, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Collins was indicted by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on July 27, 2023.
Collins was convicted in federal court of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in 2003. His firearms rights have not been restored. On July 23, 2022, in Eagle Butte, the police observed Collins holding a shotgun. They arrested Collins and seized the shotgun. Collins knew he had been convicted of a felony and could not possess firearms.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Collins was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with South Dakota Hotel and Sports Lounge to Resolve Allegations of Discrimination Against Native AmericansRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that the owners and operators of the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino, a hotel and sports bar located in Rapid City, South Dakota, have entered into a consent decree resolving the Department’s lawsuit alleging that the defendants discriminated against Native American customers in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Under the consent decree, which still must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, Connie Uhre will be barred from serving as an officer or director of the company or from exercising any management duties or being involved in any operations on behalf of the Grand Gateway Hotel for four years. The defendants will also issue a public apology and send it specifically to tribal organizations in South Dakota and throughout the Great Plains region.
“As alleged in the complaint, the defendants both prevented Native Americans from booking rooms at the hotel and made public statements discouraging Native Americans from setting foot on the business’s property,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Statements like the one made by a defendant in this case – that ‘[w]e will no long[er] allow any Native American on property,’ – are reminiscent of a long history of prejudice and exclusion Native American communities have faced. The Justice Department will continue to work alongside Native American communities to fulfill the promise of equal protection under the law.”
“The defendants’ conduct in this case was egregious, motivated by naked animus, and amounted to an outright ban on Native American customers seeking access to a public establishment,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This kind of hateful conduct invokes a long and painful history of negative stereotypes against and exclusion of the Native American community. We applaud the Tribal elders, local officials, and advocates who took a stand against this shameful conduct. Our settlement should send a message to public establishments across the country that their doors must be open to all communities regardless of race. As we commemorate Native American Heritage Month, the Justice Department underscores its commitment to stand with Native Americans whenever they face unlawful discrimination.”
“This consent decree affirms what should have never been at issue in the first place — that Native Americans have the fundamental right to receive equal services at places of public accommodation,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota. “Although this agreement does not change the reprehensible behavior of Ms. Uhre or the harm caused by racial discrimination, the consent decree mandates Uhre’s removal from corporate control, the immediate cessation of discriminatory policies and the implementation of a series of preventative measures that must be taken at the expense of the corporation. The ongoing involvement of the Justice Department stands as a forceful reminder to all business owners in South Dakota that refusing services on the basis of race is against the law and will not be tolerated.”
The Department’s lawsuit, filed in October 2022, alleged that, since at least March 20, 2022, the Retsel Corporation and two of its directors, Connie Uhre and Nicholas Uhre, discriminated against Native American customers through policies and practices that denied Native Americans the full and equal enjoyment of access to the services, accommodations, and privileges at the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino.
Specifically, the complaint alleged that on or around March 20, 2022, Connie Uhre told other Rapid City hotel owners and managers that she did “not want to allow Natives on property…. The problem is we do not know the nice ones from the bad natives…so we just have to say no to them!” Uhre then announced on Facebook that “[w]e will no long[sic] allow any Native American” in the Grand Gateway or in the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino. The complaint further alleged that on at least two occasions, on March 21 and March 22, 2022, respectively, the defendants turned away Native Americans who sought to book rooms in the Grand Gateway.
The apology, issued as part of the consent decree, will include the following statement:
“We extend our sincere apology to all for the statements made by Connie Uhre on March 19-20, 2022, regarding Native Americans. Ms. Uhre’s comments were not consistent with the values or polices of our company or of our businesses, the Grand Gateway Hotel and Cheers Sports Lounge. We deeply regret the pain or harm Ms. Uhre’s statements have caused within our Native American community. We want to make clear that we welcome all Native Americans to the Grand Gateway Hotel and Cheers Sports Lounge.”
The consent decree also requires that the defendants retain a compliance officer to oversee compliance with its terms, implement and publish an anti-discrimination policy, institute a complaint process, undergo training, and develop an affirmative marketing plan. These provisions will be in effect for the next three years. Title II prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in places of public accommodation, such as hotels and places of entertainment. Under Title II, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division can obtain injunctive relief that changes policies and practices to remedy the discriminatory conduct. Title II does not authorize the division to obtain monetary damages for customers who are victims of discrimination.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report discrimination in places of public accommodation that violates Title II by calling the Justice Department at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with South Dakota Hotel and Sports Lounge to Resolve Allegations of Discrimination Against Native AmericansRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that the owners and operators of the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino, a hotel and sports bar located in Rapid City, South Dakota, have entered into a consent decree resolving the Department’s lawsuit alleging that the defendants discriminated against Native American customers in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Under the consent decree, which still must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, Connie Uhre will be barred from serving as an officer or director of the company or from exercising any management duties or being involved in any operations on behalf of the Grand Gateway Hotel for four years. The defendants will also issue a public apology and send it specifically to tribal organizations in South Dakota and throughout the Great Plains region.
“As alleged in the complaint, the defendants both prevented Native Americans from booking rooms at the hotel and made public statements discouraging Native Americans from setting foot on the business’s property,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Statements like the one made by a defendant in this case – that ‘[w]e will no long[er] allow any Native American on property,’ – are reminiscent of a long history of prejudice and exclusion Native American communities have faced. The Justice Department will continue to work alongside Native American communities to fulfill the promise of equal protection under the law.”
“The defendants’ conduct in this case was egregious, motivated by naked animus, and amounted to an outright ban on Native American customers seeking access to a public establishment,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This kind of hateful conduct invokes a long and painful history of negative stereotypes against and exclusion of the Native American community. We applaud the Tribal elders, local officials, and advocates who took a stand against this shameful conduct. Our settlement should send a message to public establishments across the country that their doors must be open to all communities regardless of race. As we commemorate Native American Heritage Month, the Justice Department underscores its commitment to stand with Native Americans whenever they face unlawful discrimination.”
“This consent decree affirms what should have never been at issue in the first place — that Native Americans have the fundamental right to receive equal services at places of public accommodation,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota. “Although this agreement does not change the reprehensible behavior of Ms. Uhre or the harm caused by racial discrimination, the consent decree mandates Uhre’s removal from corporate control, the immediate cessation of discriminatory policies and the implementation of a series of preventative measures that must be taken at the expense of the corporation. The ongoing involvement of the Justice Department stands as a forceful reminder to all business owners in South Dakota that refusing services on the basis of race is against the law and will not be tolerated.”
The Department’s lawsuit, filed in October 2022, alleged that, since at least March 20, 2022, the Retsel Corporation and two of its directors, Connie Uhre and Nicholas Uhre, discriminated against Native American customers through policies and practices that denied Native Americans the full and equal enjoyment of access to the services, accommodations, and privileges at the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino.
Specifically, the complaint alleged that on or around March 20, 2022, Connie Uhre told other Rapid City hotel owners and managers that she did “not want to allow Natives on property…. The problem is we do not know the nice ones from the bad natives…so we just have to say no to them!” Uhre then announced on Facebook that “[w]e will no long[sic] allow any Native American” in the Grand Gateway or in the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino. The complaint further alleged that on at least two occasions, on March 21 and March 22, 2022, respectively, the defendants turned away Native Americans who sought to book rooms in the Grand Gateway.
The apology, issued as part of the consent decree, will include the following statement:
“We extend our sincere apology to all for the statements made by Connie Uhre on March 19-20, 2022, regarding Native Americans. Ms. Uhre’s comments were not consistent with the values or polices of our company or of our businesses, the Grand Gateway Hotel and Cheers Sports Lounge. We deeply regret the pain or harm Ms. Uhre’s statements have caused within our Native American community. We want to make clear that we welcome all Native Americans to the Grand Gateway Hotel and Cheers Sports Lounge.”
The consent decree also requires that the defendants retain a compliance officer to oversee compliance with its terms, implement and publish an anti-discrimination policy, institute a complaint process, undergo training, and develop an affirmative marketing plan. These provisions will be in effect for the next three years. Title II prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in places of public accommodation, such as hotels and places of entertainment. Under Title II, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division can obtain injunctive relief that changes policies and practices to remedy the discriminatory conduct. Title II does not authorize the division to obtain monetary damages for customers who are victims of discrimination.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report discrimination in places of public accommodation that violates Title II by calling the Justice Department at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online.
View the consent decree here.
Watertown Woman Sentenced for Her Role in Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Watertown, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 30, 2023.
Taylor Hoff, 29, was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hoff was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. She pleaded guilty on July 31, 2023.
During her involvement in the conspiracy, Hoff obtained pills containing fentanyl from a co-conspirator on front and re-sold the pills to drug customers in northeastern South Dakota, to include on the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate reservation.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Watertown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Hoff was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Man Indicted on Murder ChargesRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man for two counts of Second-Degree Murder.
Jonathan Eagle Elk, age 18, was indicted in October of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on October 30, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
In June of 2022, Eagle Elk killed Louis Swift Bird by beating him to death. Then in July of 2022, he beat Maria Makes Him First to death. Both murders occurred in Pine Ridge, within blocks of each other. Both Swift Bird and Makes Him First were homeless at the time and laying defenseless on the ground when Eagle Elk attacked them.
The charge is merely an accusation and Eagle Elk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case.
Eagle Elk was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Two Sioux Falls Women Sentenced for Their Roles in Multi-Pound Methamphetamine and Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced two Sioux Falls, South Dakota, women convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencings took place on October 30, 2023.
Kessara Mikkelson, 35, was sentenced to nineteen years and seven months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Asia Gunhammer. 31, was sentenced to ten years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Mikkelson and Gunhammer were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. Mikkelson pleaded guilty on July 25, 2023, and Gunhammer pleaded guilty on July 20, 2023.
Mikkelson and Gunhammer were involved in a large-scale methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution network that originated out of California and made its way into South Dakota through shipments that were both mailed through FedEx and driven in semi-trailers. The source of supply for this organization, Terry Morris, Jr., who was also indicted as part of this conspiracy, was, and continues to be, incarcerated in a California state prison. He is set to be sentenced on November 13, 2023. Mikkelson was personally responsible for organizing and handling over 100 pounds of methamphetamine and 25,000 fentanyl pills during her involvement in this conspiracy. Gunhammer was one of the known sub-distributors for Mikkelson. The methamphetamine in this conspiracy was known to be sourced by the Mexican cartels.
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.
Mikkelson and Gunhammer were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on October 24, 2023.
Jonah Burning Breast, 29, was sentenced to four 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.
Burning Breast was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 4, 2023.
The conviction stems from Burning Breast, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, knowingly being in possession of an O.F. Mossberg & Sons Incorporated 12 gauge, pump-action shotgun in Rapid City in January of 2023.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Burning Breast was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Failing to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on October 30, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Leonard Jones, age 37, was sentenced to 18 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.
Jones was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 2, 2023.
Jones is required to register as a sex offender under federal law. Jones had registered an address in Rapid City with the Rapid City Police Department in August of 2022, following his release from prison. In January of 2023, Jones left that address without notifying the police or his probation officer. Jones did not update his registration until his arrest for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in July of 2023.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Jones was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Manderson Man Sentenced to Forty Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Manderson, South Dakota, man convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Use of Force, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation, Distribution of a Controlled Substance to an Individual Under 21, Tampering with a Witness, Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner, two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Sexual Abuse. The sentencing took place on October 26, 2023.
Gabriel White Plume, 39, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on the charges of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Use of Force, Distribution of a Controlled Substance to an Individual Under 21, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, 20 years on the charge of Tampering with a Witness, 10 years on the two charges of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation, and five years on the charge of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner. The prison sentences were ordered to be served concurrently and will be followed by six years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a total of $800 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
White Plume was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He was found guilty following a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, in July of 2023.
The conviction stems from White Plume physically and sexually abusing his dating partner by the use of force at Manderson. The victim sustained substantial bodily injury from the physical assault and serious bodily injury from the sexual assault. Prior to being charged federally, White Plume was able to obtain a cellular device in his cell while incarcerated at Pine Ridge. White Plume used the cellular device to access Facebook in order to corruptly persuade his victim into dropping tribal charges.
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. Attorneys Megan Poppen and Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
White Plume was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Little Eagle Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 30, 2023.
Jesse James Clairmont, age 54, was sentenced to four years and three 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.
Clairmont was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February of 2021. He pleaded guilty on July 24, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from Clairmont distributing methamphetamine primarily within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation between January 1, 2015, and February 8, 2021. During the time frame of the conspiracy, Clairmont was responsible for distributing at least 50 grams but less than 200 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Clairmont was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Deadwood Man Receives 10 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 Deadwood, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on October 24, 2023.
Donald William Laun, 62, 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. Laun will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Laun was indicted for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on August 11, 2023.
Laun was arrested as a result of an undercover sex trafficking operation conducted during the 2022 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, targeting internet predators. Following multiple chats and sexually explicit text messages with a person Laun believed to be a 14-year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover agent, Laun proceeded to negotiate a time and place he would meet the minor to engage in unlawful sex acts. When Laun went to the pre-determined location to meet the minor, he was instead met by law enforcement agents and placed under arrest.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Laun was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Allen Man Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced an Allen, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact and Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on October 26, 2023.
Joshua Isaac Sharp, 39, 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, following his conviction for Abusive Sexual Contact.
Sharp was also sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay another $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, following his conviction for Possession of Child Pornography. The Court ordered that the sentences be run concurrently.
Sharp was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in July of 2022. He pleaded guilty on July 28, 2023.
The conviction stems from Sharp engaging in sexual contact with a child who was less than 12 years old in November of 2021 near Allen. Sharp also possessed child pornography on his cellular telephone during this time.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Sharp was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to Eight Years and Four Months for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 25, 2023.
Jeremiah Little, 40, was sentenced to eight years and four 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. He was also ordered to forfeit two firearms.
Little was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on August 11, 2023.
In the spring and summer of 2021, Little distributed methamphetamine primarily in Kyle and Pine Ridge, South Dakota. On May 13, 2022, law enforcement located two firearms and drug paraphernalia in a vehicle operated by Little after he fled from them. During the time frame of the conspiracy, Little was responsible for distributing around 200 grams of methamphetamine. On a second occasion in August of 2022, Little again fled from law enforcement, this time leading to seizure of drug paraphernalia.
This case was investigated by Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Little was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Parmelee 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 Parmelee, South Dakota man convicted of Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation. The sentencing took place on October 24, 2023.
Allen Eugene Two Eagle, age 31, was sentenced to 20 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.
Two Eagle was indicted for Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation by a federal grand jury in April of 2022. He pleaded guilty on July 27, 2023.
The Defendant and the victim began dating in November of 2020. In September of 2021, they were living together at the Defendant’s residence in Parmelee. On September 12, 2021, the Defendant and the victim argued about their relationship and the argument continued into the following day. The confrontation became physical when the Defendant assaulted the victim. During the assault, the Defendant put his knee into the victim’s stomach and put his hand around her neck. The victim was not able to breathe as the Defendant applied pressure to her neck.
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 Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Two Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Sentenced for Prohibited Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Prohibited Possession of a Firearm. Sentencing took place on October 23, 2023.
Paris Bordeaux, age 33, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bordeaux was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2023. He pleaded guilty on July 27, 2023.
On August 28, 2022, law enforcement initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle near Mission for a vehicle safety violation. The Defendant was the driver of the vehicle. As information developed during the stop, it was determined the vehicle would be searched. The search revealed a Glock pistol, a box of 9mm rounds, a plastic bag with methamphetamine, two digital scales that tested positive for narcotics, and a glass pipe with residue. The Defendant admitted to possessing the firearm and claimed ownership of the drug-related items in the vehicle. As an unlawful user of a controlled substance, the Defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm. The Defendant also has a prior conviction for domestic violence which prohibits him from possessing a firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler.
Bordeaux was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Voluntary Manslaughter and Child AbuseRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter and Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on October 24, 2023.
Noah Virgil White Lance, III, age 34, was sentenced to a total of 18 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.
White Lance was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2022. He pleaded guilty on July 10, 2023.
In early August of 2022, the Defendant and his two daughters relocated from Rapid City, South Dakota, to Mission, South Dakota. While residing in Mission, the Defendant would physically abuse his younger daughter by striking her in the head and body. The Defendant would also order his older daughter to abuse his younger daughter as a form of discipline. On August 11, the Defendant instructed his older daughter to discipline his younger daughter for violating bathroom privileges. In line with the Defendant’s orders, the older daughter abused her sister. The younger daughter became non-responsive during the abuse and succumbed to her injuries two days later after attempts at medical intervention were unsuccessful. An autopsy revealed traumatic head injuries, multiple rib fractures at various stages of healing, and multiple cuts and bruises. The cause of death was determined to be traumatic brain injury due to non-accident trauma. The fatal injury was likely inflicted previously and the symptoms were exacerbated by the older sibling.
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, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
White Lance 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 U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Receiving a Firearm While Under Indictment. The sentencing took place on October 19, 2023.
Antonino Alvarez-Resendiz, 36, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Alvarez-Resendiz was indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Receiving a Firearm While Under Indictment by a federal grand jury in January 2022. He pleaded guilty on July 14, 2023.
In December of 2021, in Rapid City, Alvarez-Resendiz, while knowing he was under indictment on felony charges in South Dakota state court, was in possession of a Beretta, .40 caliber Smith & Wesson, which was found after Alvarez-Resendiz came into contact with law enforcement. Alvarez-Resendiz was also found in possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
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.
Alvarez-Resendiz was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
North Dakota Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Fargo, North Dakota, man, convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on October 10, 2023, in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Bryant Elliot DeCoteau, age 32, was sentenced to 10 years 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.
DeCoteau was indicted for Sexual Abuse by a federal grand jury in December of 2022. He pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact on July 10, 2023.
According to court documents, in January of 2018, and continuing through December of 2019, DeCoteau knowingly engaged in and attempted to engage in sexual contact with the victim.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
DeCoteau was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Swift Bird, SD Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Swift Bird, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury was sentenced on October 11, 2023, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Cody Dean High Elk, age 40, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
High Elk was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2023. He pleaded guilty on July 11, 2023.
On the evening of July 3, 2022, High Elk and his wife were arguing while walking to their home in the Swift Bird Community. High Elk threw his wife to the ground and punched her. High Elk’s wife fled to their home. High Elk followed and continued to strike her until shortly before law enforcement arrived. High Elk’s wife incurred a separated shoulder and bruising on her face, shoulder and forearm in the assault.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
High Elk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Court Judge Lawrence Piersol has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota woman convicted of Possession of a Firearm by Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on September 25, 2023.
Ashley Garcia, 36, was sentenced to twelve months and one day in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Garcia was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. She pleaded guilty on June 27, 2023.
On December 21, 2022, Garcia was walking in the area of West 12th and Interstate 29 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with a rifle. A concerned party called the police department about a woman walking outside, as it was during a blizzard, and the temperature was -9 degrees. When officers arrived, Garcia had the rifle in her left hand, but attempted to discard it upon being approached by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case.
Garcia was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City 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 Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 11, 2023.
Jessica Grant, a/k/a Jessi Grant, age 46, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Grant was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of 2021. She pleaded guilty on July 11, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from a drug conspiracy beginning in June 2019 and continuing until December 2021. Grant was involved in a conspiracy with numerous other individuals to distribute methamphetamine in multiple communities in South Dakota, including Eagle Butte, Pierre, Rapid City, and Rosebud. Grant received large amounts of methamphetamine and re-distributed it to various individuals. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Grant was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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Pine Ridge Man Convicted of Three Counts of First-Degree MurderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Elijah West, 26, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, 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 following a five-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on September 22, 2023.
The convictions carry a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine and a $700 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
West was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2022. That same month, West killed three people by shooting them at a residence near Wounded Knee, South Dakota.
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.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date will be scheduled. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. ###
North Dakota Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Washington, D.C. Man Sentenced for Misprision of a FelonyRead 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 Mandan, North Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 10, 2023. Chief Judge Lange also sentenced a Washington, D.C., man conviction of Misprision of a Felony. The sentencing took place on August 11, 2023.
Abdul Vann, age 48, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, seven years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Samuel Vann, age 22, was sentenced to time served of seven months of custody, one year of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Abdul, his son Samuel, and two other co-defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. Abdul pleaded guilty on June 22, 2023. Samuel pleaded guilty on June 30, 2023.
The convictions stemmed from a drug conspiracy in December 2022 wherein Abdul Vann knowingly and intentionally agreed with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Abdul, and his three co-defendants were arrested while at a gas station in Oacoma. Their vehicles were searched and approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine was found in vacuum sealed bags wrapped as Christmas presents. Abdul and the co-defendants were transporting the methamphetamine from a source in Law Vegas, Nevada, to North Dakota for further distribution. Samuel Vann had actual knowledge of the conspiracy; however, he did not do anything to stop it. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance.
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. The two remaining co-defendants will be sentenced later this month.
Samuel Vann was released following his sentencing. Abdul Vann was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Milbank Man Sentenced to 12 1/2 Years in Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Milbank, South Dakota man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 2, 2023.
Travis Thiele, 41, was sentenced to twelve years and six months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Thiele was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April of 2022. He pleaded guilty on June 20, 2023.
Beginning on an unknown data and continuing until April of 2022, Thiele regularly obtained methamphetamine from a co-conspirator and distributed it to others in Northeastern South Dakota. He is believed to have been involved in the distribution of approximately 17 pounds of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Thiele was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kenel Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Kenel, South Dakota man convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner. The sentencing took place on October 10, 2023.
Rodd Rough Surface, age 46, was sentenced to two years and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rough Surface was indicted for assault by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on July 10, 2023.
On May 29, 2021, Rough Surface was at his home in Kenel, in Corson County, within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. He was drinking alcohol with the victim, his dating partner, when they got into an argument and he assaulted her. He used his hands to strangle her and gave her a black eye, bruising, and rendered her unconscious.
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 Tim Maher prosecuted the case.
Rough Surface was ordered to self-surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons by October 31, 2023.
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Four Co-Conspirators Serving Prison Time for Involvement in Fentanyl Conspiracy in Northeast South DakotaRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced Daren Lee Basche, a South Dakota man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. This was the last sentencing of the four defendants involved in this indictment, and it took place on October 10, 2023. Basche, 58, of Brandon, South Dakota, was sentenced to 9 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release. Previously, Jevon McLeod, 33, of Sisseton, South Dakota, was sentenced on March 14, 2023, to 40 years in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release. Tiarah Bissonette, 26, of Sisseton, South Dakota, was sentenced on March 14, 2023, to 4 years and 9 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release. Trey Petrich, 24, of Watertown, South Dakota, was sentenced on August 28, 2023 to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release. Additionally, they were each ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
All four defendants were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl by a federal grand jury in July of 2022. Basche pleaded guilty on June 12, 2023, McLeod pleaded guilty on December 5, 2022, Bissonette pleaded guilty on November 16, 2023, and Petrich pleaded guilty on May 3, 2023.
During this conspiracy, McLeod would pick up pills containing fentanyl from co-conspirators in other states and transport it back to South Dakota to be distributed. Basche, Bissonette and Petrich were sub-distributors for McLeod. The group was responsible for distributing thousands of pills containing fentanyl in Northeast South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigations, the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office, the Codington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
All defendants were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after their sentencings.
Eagle Butte 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 an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 10, 2023.
Irene Guerrero, age 39, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Guerrero was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. She pleaded guilty on June 14, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from a drug conspiracy beginning in February 2021 and continuing until June 2022. Guerrero was involved with several other individuals to distribute methamphetamine in and around the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. Guerrero received distributable quantities of methamphetamine from others which she then sold. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Guerrero was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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Dupree, SD Man Sentenced for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Dupree, South Dakota, man convicted of Second Degree Murder was sentenced on October 11, 2023, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Stuart Cochran, Sr., age 50, was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison, four years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Cochran was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2022. He pleaded guilty on July 11, 2023.
On the morning of June 25, 2022, Stuart Cochran, Sr. was driving home to Dupree when he observed the victim walking on the shoulder of US Hwy 212 near Eagle Butte, SD. Cochran bore a grudge against the victim based on past altercations. Cochran pulled up next to the victim. The two exchanged profanities. Cochran drew a pistol, leveled it at the victim and pulled the trigger. When the gun did not fire, Cochran racked the pistol slide and pulled the trigger again, shooting the victim in the face and killing him.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Cochran was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Detroit Man Sentenced to 10 Years Along with His South Dakota Co-Conspirator in Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Detroit, Michigan man and a Sioux Falls, South Dakota man, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on September 29, 2023.
Vernon Lee Mason, Jr., 31, and his co-conspirator, Demetrius Jackson, 42, were both sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. They were both also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Mason, Jr. and Jackson were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. Mason, Jr. pleaded guilty on July 17, 2023, and Jackson pleaded guilty on November 8, 2022.
On November 19, 2021, law enforcement stopped the vehicle in which Jackson and Mason, Jr. were traveling. They searched the vehicle and found approximately 57 grams of methamphetamine, which the two intended to distribute to others. Investigators then obtained a search warrant for Jackson’s residence and found an additional 755.5 grams of methamphetamine intended for distribution. Mason was also captured on a wire intercept discussing drug transactions with a local drug dealer from Trent, South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Mason, Jr. and Jackson were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after their sentencings.
Beresford Man Charged with Receipt and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Beresford, South Dakota, man for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography.
Theodore John Jungbauer, age 59, was indicted in October of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on October 6, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 40 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that between December 13, 2021, and August 24, 2023, Jungbauer knowingly received and distributed, and attempted to receive and distribute, any child pornography that had been mailed, shipped, and transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce by any means, including by computer.
The charge is merely an accusation and Jungbauer is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting 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.
Jungbauer was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial which has been set for December 12, 2023.
Aberdeen Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - 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 Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on October 10, 2023.
Tevaughn Brownlee, age 27, was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Brownlee was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2022. He pleaded guilty on July 24, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on September 11, 2022, in Aberdeen, when Brownlee was involved in a domestic violence incident while possessing a firearm. Brownlee, who had previously been convicted of a felony in the state of Illinois, was in possession of a Smith and Wesson 45 caliber pistol. Due to the prior conviction, Brownlee is prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case was investigated by ATF and the Aberdeen Police Department. 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.
Brownlee was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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St. Francis Man Convicted of AssaultRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Edward Wilson, a/k/a Eddie Wilson, age 41, of St. Francis, South Dakota of Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Pierre, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on October 4, 2023.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Wilson was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2023.
On May 29, 2023, shortly after 8:00 am, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services responded to St. Francis after the victim called 911 reporting an assault. The victim reported to officers that Wilson had assaulted her the night prior, punching her in the face and kicking her in the body numerous times. The responding officers noticed marks on the victim’s face and body consistent with her statement. Wilson later sent text messages to the victim, stating that in a prayer he apologized for what happened and swore he’d never lay a hand on the victim. Wilson has previously been convicted of domestic assault on two separate occasions in U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation will be ordered and a sentencing date will be set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
McLaughlin Woman Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota woman convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on October 2, 2023.
Jessica Black Cloud, age 24, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Black Cloud was indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. She pleaded guilty on June 20, 2023.
On April 19, 2022, Black Cloud was driving a vehicle in Corson County within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation and she had two passengers with her. She was drinking vodka and was under the influence of alcohol and her blood alcohol content was .248%, or more than three times the legal limit. At some time after 3:00 AM, she drove into a curve in the roadway on U.S. Highway 12, lost control of her vehicle, over-corrected, and entered the ditch. Her vehicle spun out of control and ultimately rolled. One of her passengers was partially ejected and died at the scene. A second passenger remained in the vehicle and had minor injuries. Black Cloud was also ejected and injured, but received medical care and recovered.
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 South Dakota Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher prosecuted the case.
Black Cloud was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kenel Woman Sentenced for Child AbuseRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Kenel, South Dakota, woman convicted of Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on October 2, 2023.
Bobbi Rey Yellow Fat, age 41, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Yellow Fat was indicted for Child Abuse by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. She pleaded guilty on June 20, 2023.
In early August of 2022, Yellow Fat was caring for her three-year-old child in Kenel, which is in Corson County and within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. The child sat on a mop that was soaked with a household cleaning solution. The child had eczema and a history of skin issues which exacerbated the injuries to her through the exposure. Other older children in the defendant’s household asked the defendant to get the child medical care, but she did not. The defendant did not take reasonable steps to address the injuries to the child. The child developed skin infections, suffered bleeding wounds, and was exposed to severe physical pain for over a week through the defendant’s lack of appropriate care and abuse. After law enforcement officers were notified, the child received medical care and healed.
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 Tim Maher prosecuted the case.
Yellow Fat was released after sentencing and must report to prison by October 24, 2023.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead 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 September 28, 2023.
Eugene Perez, 44, was sentenced to 11 years and five 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.
Perez was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in January of 2022. He pleaded guilty on June 28, 2023.
The charge stems from Perez conspiring with others to distribute multiple pounds of methamphetamine in and around Rapid City between January 2018 and December 2021.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Perez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Man Found Guilty at Jury TrialRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted JT Myore, age 36, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, of Robbery, Carjacking, and Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on September 27, 2023.
The charges carry a mandatory minimum of seven years in custody up to life, and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count.
Myore was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2021. He was charged in connection with two separate incidents, and the first one occurred in August of 2019 and the second in May of 2021.
In August of 2019, Myore and a co-defendant brandished firearms in order to carjack a Ford Freestyle from another male in Pine Ridge. In May of 2021, Myore and his co-defendants forcibly assaulted a male in Pine Ridge in order to steal his Toyota Celica. The male sustained a broken arm and cuts and contusions to his head and face.
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, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date will be set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Wire Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering (Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Property Derived from Specified Unlawful Activity.)
Richard Kamolvathin, a/k/a Danuj Richard Kamolvathin, d/b/a Zolvent Pro, LLC, age 57, was indicted in August of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on September 12, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and up to $300 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that beginning on or about October 13, 2020, and continuing through June 30, 2021, Kamolvathin knowingly devised a scheme to defraud where he fraudulently submitted two applications to the South Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management for Small Business Start-Up Grants for his business, Zolvent Pro, LLC. Kalmovathin’s grant applications and supporting documentation contained false statements, including the date of the registration of the business and the claimed business expenses. As the result, Kamolvathin received two grants: one for $350,000 and one for $13,800. Kamolvathin then used the funds for his own purposes, including the purchase of a luxury watch for $26,710.19.
The charges are merely accusations and Kamolvathin is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Kamolvathin was released on bond pending trial which has been set for February 20, 2024.
Wagner Woman Found Guilty on Multiple Counts of AbuseRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Tina Sully, age 53, of Wagner, South Dakota, of seven counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, two counts of Felony Child Abuse, and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact, following a four-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on September 15, 2023.
Sully was indicted on these charges by a federal grand jury in January of 2022. The charges carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years and possible maximum penalty of life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $1,000 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Sully was a foster and adopted mother to several children. The jury convicted her of unlawfully assaulting and cruelly punishing three of them, including beating them with belts and hangers and withholding food from them for days, between the years of 1993 and 2021. Sully was also convicted of sexually abusing one of the children by grabbing the juvenile male’s genitals.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Yankton Sioux Law Enforcement, and the Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert, who also serves as a prosecutor with the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was released pending sentencing.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Jaden Rae Lalley-Mestas, age 23, was indicted on September 12, 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on September 15, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The mandatory minimum penalty upon conviction is 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison and/or a $10,000,000 fine, five years minimum of supervised release, up to life, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The Indictment alleges that from an unknown date through September 12, 2023, Lalley-Mestas conspired with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, a controlled substance.
The charge is merely an accusation and Lalley-Mestas is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges is prosecuting the case.
Lalley-Mestas was detained in U.S. Marshals Service custody pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead 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, Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime, and two counts of False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on September 1, 2023.
Harold Salway, 24, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $400 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Salway was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on June 16, 2023.
In June of 2022, at Rapid City, Salway, being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, knowingly possessed multiple firearms which were found after Salway came into contact with law enforcement. Salway also made false statements about his drug usage while purchasing firearms between January of 2021 and March of 2022. Between January of 2021 and March of 2022, Salway purchased at least 43 firearms, which he then traded for drugs or sold or provided to them to others who were prohibited from possessing them.
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.
Salway was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Little Eagle Man Sentenced for Habitual Domestic Violence and Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann sentenced a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse by Force and Habitual Domestic Violence. The sentencing took place on September 19, 2023.
Anthony Bobtail Bear, age 43, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bobtail Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2022. A Superseding Information was filed, and the defendant changed his plea to guilty on June 26, 2023.
The defendant was convicted of physically and sexually abusing the mother of his child at a home in Little Eagle. The victim sustained bruising to her head, suffered a loss of consciousness during the abuse, and ultimately required surgery to repair the injuries she sustained from the abuse. The defendant and victim were in a tumultuous on again/off again relationship. This is the defendant’s fifth conviction for assaulting the victim, and sixth conviction for domestic violence against his dating partners.
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, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Bobtail Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Yankton Woman Sentenced for Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception, and SubterfugeRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Yankton, South Dakota, woman convicted of Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception, and Subterfuge. The sentencing took place on September 11, 2023.
Lisa Merrigan, age 55, was sentenced to two years of probation and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Merrigan was indicted by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. She pleaded guilty on July 5, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between June 19, 2021, and September 11, 2021. Merrigan, worked as a registered nurse at a hospital in Chamberlain, South Dakota, during that time period. Merrigan tampered with a vial of fentanyl citrate for injection properly stored within the hospital, by removing the fentanyl citrate for injection from the vial and replacing the majority of it with saline solution. Merrigan then returned the tampered vial to storage, knowing that the diluted fentanyl citrate for injection could be dispensed to surgical patients at the hospital. Fentanyl citrate is a Schedule II controlled substance that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use to relieve severe pain during and after surgery. The fentanyl in the tampered vial was so diluted that had the vial been dispensed to a surgical patient, the pain management would have been minimal or unsuccessful.
This case was investigated by the FDA, Office of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Wounded Knee Man Found Guilty of MurderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Spencer High Hawk, age 27, of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, of Aiding and Abetting Second Degree Murder, following a four-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on September 8, 2023.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
High Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2022.
Evidence at trial established that High Hawk beat another man to death near Wounded Knee, South Dakota, in June of 2022.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Lindrooth and Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has been set for December 1, 2023. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Watertown Man Sentenced 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 Watertown, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on August 28, 2023.
William Dean Locke, age 35, was sentenced to two and a half 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.
Locke was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty on June 5, 2023.
The conviction stems from Locke failing to register as a sex offender as required by state law between December 30, 2021, and October 19, 2022. Locke had previously been convicted of a sex offense in state court which requires him to register for the rest of his life.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman 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.
Locke was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Todd County 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 a Todd County, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact With a Child. The sentencing took place on September 12, 2023.
Kevin Sharkey, age 46, 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.
Sharkey was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2022. He pleaded guilty on June 14, 2023.
The conviction stems from conduct that occurred between March 1, 2017, and August 31, 2017, in Todd County, wherein Sharkey engaged in a sexual contact with a child who had not attained the age of 12 years.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Sharkey was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
St. Francis Man Sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead 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 St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on September 12, 2023.
Albert Guerue, age 43, was sentenced to four 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.
Guerue was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on June 14, 2023.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on April 7, 2022, in Todd County, South Dakota. On that date, Guerue was consuming alcoholic beverages at the residence of the victim, an adult woman. Guerue became angry and threatened to kill the victim. Guerue then assaulted the victim by punching her with his fists, kicking her legs with shod feet, and striking her with a metal bar. The victim suffered lacerations to her head and face that required medical attention.
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 Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Guerue was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.