District of South Dakota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Oglala Man Indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and KidnappingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted an Oglala, South Dakota, man for three counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Kidnapping.
Drace Dreaming Bear, age 21, was indicted in March of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on June 7, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction for each charge is life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count of conviction. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Dreaming Bear kidnapping, confining, and sexually abusing a female at Oglala between December 3 and 4, 2022.
The charges are merely accusations and Dreaming Bear is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen is prosecuting the case.
Dreaming Bear was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for August 15, 2023.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Production of Child PornographyRead 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 two counts of Production of Child Pornography.
Marc Jones, age 29, was indicted in May of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on June 1, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on March 23, 2023, Jones knowingly employed, used persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced two minor females to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct and knowing that such visual depictions would be transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
The charges are merely accusations and Jones is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. 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.
Jones was remanded to the custody of the State pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Porcupine Man Indicted for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Porcupine, South Dakota, man for Involuntary Manslaughter and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
Robert Cottier, age 64, was indicted in May of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on May 26, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for each assault count, and eight years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for involuntary manslaughter. Also $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count and restitution may be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on February 18, 2023, near Porcupine, Cottier killed a man by operating a motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner. Cottier is also alleged to have assaulted four other individuals, three of which were minors.
The charge is merely an accusation and Cottier is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth is prosecuting the case.
Cottier was released on conditions pending trial. A trial date has been set for August 1, 2023.
North Dakota Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Fort Yates, North Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on June 5, 2023.
Calvin Killspotted, a/k/a Sonesakda Killspotted, age 41, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution in the amount of $3,954, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Killspotted was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in August of 2021. He pleaded guilty on May 17, 2022.
On June 3, 2021, near Little Eagle, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, Killspotted punched his dating partner and broke her jaw.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency, and the Corson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Killspotted was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Little Eagle Man Sentenced for AssaultRead 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 Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on June 5, 2023.
Raul Tomas Mata, age 22, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution in the amount of $5,150.31, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Mata was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in July of 2022. He pleaded guilty on March 14, 2023.
On April 29, 2022, in Little Eagle, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, Mata fired a rifle from a vehicle towards several houses. One of the bullets Mata fired struck a three-year-old child in the abdomen, causing her serious and life-threatening bodily injury.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Corson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
Mata was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Brothers Found Guilty of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has convicted Elias Condon, age 24, and Jordan Condon, age 22, both of Rapid City, South Dakota, of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance following a two-day court trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on May 24, 2023.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in custody and/or a $10,000,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Elias Condon and Jordan Condon were indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2021. During their involvement in the conspiracy, the brothers made multiple trips to the Denver, Colorado, area where they purchased methamphetamine. They then returned to South Dakota and distributed the methamphetamine to others to further sell or use. Several times the defendants brought firearms to trade for the methamphetamine. Two co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty to their involvement. Edward Ybarra was sentenced to 15 ½ years in federal prison on March 3, 2023. Ramon Morales-Padilla will be sentenced on July 21, 2023.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), which is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing dates are pending. The defendants were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
White River Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a White River, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on May 22, 2023.
Justin Moreno, age 34, was sentenced to nine years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Moreno was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 9, 2023.
The conviction stems from conduct that occurred on January 2, 2022, in Mellette County, South Dakota, wherein Moreno engaged in sexual contact with an adult female by the use of force.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Richards was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Texas Man Sentenced to 19 Months in Federal Prison for Role in ATM LarcenyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Houston, Texas, man, convicted of Bank Larceny. The sentencing took place on May 15, 2023, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Alton Himes, age 25, was sentenced to 19 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay approximately $100,000 in restitution and $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Himes was indicted for Bank Larceny and Transportation of Stolen Money by a federal grand jury in September 2022. He pleaded guilty to Bank Larceny on March 1, 2023.
According to court documents, on December 2, 2021, in the early morning hours, Himes, and his three co-defendants, approached an automated teller machine (ATM) belonging to Dakotaland Federal Credit Union located in Madison, South Dakota. One of the vehicles that Defendant Himes and his co-defendants were driving at that time was a stolen Ford F-350 pickup truck. The truck was stolen from a parking lot located on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota.
Himes and his co-defendants used the stolen truck and towing equipment, including straps and J-hooks, to physically break into the ATM and remove three cash boxes. After forcefully removing the boxes, Himes and his co-defendants stole the boxes and fled the area in the stolen pickup truck. They then traveled across state lines with the stolen cash.
The ATM was destroyed in the process of the larceny and was deemed a total loss, costing over $30,000 to replace. The total amount of cash stolen was $32,300, and it belonged to Dakotaland Federal Credit Union.
Himes’s co-defendants – Kytorrion Young, Keivon Jones, and Kendrick Kennedy – knowingly participated with Himes in carrying out bank larceny. Each is awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Himes was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Nearly 2 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Fraud & Money Laundering SchemesRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man, convicted of Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments. The sentencing took place on May 17, 2023, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Keyvon Hamilton Hogan, age 23, was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $563,127.06 in restitution, to forfeit his interest in money and personal property, as well as to pay $100 a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hogan was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments by a federal grand jury in April 2022. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments on November 9, 2022.
According to court documents, from 2020 to April 2022, Hogan, along with his co-defendants, conspired with others to commit bank fraud. The scheme impacted multiple financial institutions and individuals throughout the Sioux Falls area and elsewhere, as the defendants obtained money from those banks by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. After obtaining funds through fraud, Hogan and his co-conspirators engaged in depositing, transferring, wiring, and withdrawing currency and electronic funds at financial institutions to conceal and disguise the proceeds of the fraud scheme.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; Sioux Falls Police Department; U.S. Postal Service; and South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Hogan was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 22, 2023.
Adrian Fast Dog, 43, was sentenced to three years and seven 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.
Fast Dog was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 13, 2023.
Fast Dog was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse on October 15, 2001. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment or student status. Fast Dog last registered in June of 2021, providing a motel in Sioux Falls as his address. Subsequent address verification checks conducted by law enforcement revealed Fast Dog was not residing at the motel. Fast Dog’s whereabouts were unknown until he was arrested on July 27, 2022.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Fast Dog was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Porcupine Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on May 22, 2023.
Trey New Holy, 30, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
New Holy was indicted for Second Degree Murder by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 17, 2023.
The conviction stems from New Holy beating an individual after an altercation on September 3, 2022, in Porcupine. The victim sustained multiple blunt traumatic injuries to his head and body. He ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
New Holy was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Sentenced for Distribution of a Controlled Substance to a Person Under Age 21Read 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 Distribution of a Controlled Substance to a Person Under Age 21. The sentencing took place on May 22, 2023.
Jeremy Richards, age 29, was sentenced to five years and one month in federal prison, followed by six years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Richards was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 27, 2023.
The conviction stems from conduct that occurred between January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2022, in Todd County, South Dakota, wherein Richards distributed methamphetamine to a juvenile who was between 16 and 17 years old.
This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Richards was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Robbery and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2023.
Eric Blue Bird, 31, was sentenced to two ten-year terms in federal prison, to run consecutively, followed by three years of supervised release. Blue Bird was also ordered to pay restitution and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Blue Bird was indicted for Kidnapping, Assault on a Federal Officer, and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon by a federal grand jury in January of 2022. He pleaded guilty on November 14, 2022.
The conviction stems from Blue Bird robbing and assaulting a federal law enforcement officer on January 16, 2022, while he was incarcerated at the Oglala Sioux Tribe Adult Offender Facility.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Blue Bird was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Alcester Woman Charged with Wire FraudRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted an Alcester, South Dakota, woman for ten counts of Wire Fraud.
Michelle Warner, age 56, was indicted in May of 2023. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on May 18, 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 $1,000 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that beginning on or about June 1, 2018, and continuing through May 17, 2022, Warner, who was employed as a bookkeeper/accountant, and later as a business administrator, devised and intended to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud and obtain money and property from others by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.
The Indictment alleges that Warner, in her capacity as bookkeeper/accountant and business administrator, falsely and fraudulently paid herself additional and unauthorized payroll payments and then used the funds for her own purposes. Warner also caused her employer to remit payroll tax to the Internal Revenue Service on her behalf. Such funds purportedly came from withholding from Warner’s payroll check, when in fact, as Warner then and there knew, she did not actually withhold those funds from her payroll check. Additionally, Warner used her employer’s credit card without authority for her own personal use.
The charges are merely accusations and Warner is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Sioux City (NE) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Warner was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Wakonda Man Sentenced for Theft in Connection with Health CareRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Wakonda, South Dakota, man convicted of Theft in Connection with Health Care. The sentencing took place on May 15, 2023.
Cody Carstensen, age 47, was sentenced to two years of probation and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Carstensen was also ordered to pay restitution.
Carstensen was indicted by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 23, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between June of 2019 and February of 2022, when Carstensen, who was a registered pharmacist in Scotland, South Dakota, knowingly and willfully embezzled, stole, and converted without authority several drugs valued at more than $100.
Carstensen, in his capacity as pharmacist, received deliveries of controlled substances intended for a hospital and pharmacy. Instead of placing all of the delivered controlled substances in the inventory for the hospital and pharmacy, he stole the substances from several deliveries and used them for his own purposes.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead 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 Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Robert Walter White, age 35, was indicted in May of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on May 10, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 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 White, who had previously been convicted of a sex crime and required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, failed to do so between February 23, 2023, and May 2, 2023.
The charge is merely an accusation and White is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. 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.
White was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for July 18, 2023.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 15, 2023.
Travis Maho, 34, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Maho was indicted for Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 24, 2023.
In June of 2022, in Rapid City, Maho, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing ammunition, was knowingly in possession of 7.62x54 caliber, .32 caliber, and .45 Auto caliber ammunition, which was found after Maho came into contact with law enforcement. Maho was also in possession of distributable quantities 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.
Maho was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man and Mellette County Woman Sentenced in Burglary and Homicide CaseRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man and a Mellette County, South Dakota, woman, in a case that involved charges of Second Degree Murder, First Degree Burglary, and related firearms offenses.
Sativa Looking Cloud, age 21, pleaded guilty on January 18, 2023, to Second Degree Murder and First Degree Burglary. On May 8, 2023, Looking Cloud was sentenced to 20 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.
Stephen Fallis, age 30, pleaded guilty on January 19, 2023, to Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. On May 1, 2023, he was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and order to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crimes Victim Fund.
Looking Cloud and Fallis will also forfeit ownership of all firearms and ammunition seized in the case. Restitution may also be ordered. Looking Cloud and Fallis were indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2022.
The case stemmed from two separate incidents that occurred in Mellette County in February of 2022. In the early morning hours of February 16, 2023, Looking Cloud and Fallis went to a residence in Mellette County. Both were in possession of handguns. Looking Cloud entered the residence without permission and argued with the occupants. She then produced a 9mm handgun and fired multiple shots in the direction of the occupants, causing them to flee into another room. Looking Cloud and Fallis then departed the residence in their vehicle. The occupants of the residence called 911.
On the morning of February 17, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Fallis’s Todd County residence, seizing multiple firearms, including two firearms bearing obliterated serial numbers.
On the evening of February 17, 2022, Fallis and Looking Cloud were at a residence in Mellette County. Looking Cloud got into an argument with a woman and produced 9mm handgun. She fired a single shot at the woman at point blank range, striking her in the chest. Looking Cloud and Fallis fled the residence. The occupants of the residence heard the gunshot and called 911. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the early morning hours of February 18, 2022, Looking Cloud was arrested in Mellette County. The 9mm handgun used by Looking Cloud was seized as evidence.
On March 1, 2023, Fallis was located at a residence in Vermillion, South Dakota, and placed under arrest. A 9mm handgun was seized from his person. Fallis admitted to being an unlawful user of controlled substances.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, U.S. Marshals Service, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Vermillion Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Looking Cloud and Fallis were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man 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 a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Larceny. The sentencing took place on May 8, 2023.
Dustin Gallegos, Jr., age 25, was sentenced to all time served through November 8, 2023, equal to approximately 10 months in custody, followed by three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay restitution of $9,908.13, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Gallegos was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 2, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on March 7, 2022, in Todd County, South Dakota. On that date, Gallegos was driving a motor vehicle on U.S. Highway 83, when he lost control of his vehicle and wrecked. A passing motorist stopped to assist and let Gallegos wait with her in her vehicle for first responders to arrive. When law enforcement arrived at the scene, the woman got out of her vehicle to speak to an officer, at which point Gallegos got in the driver seat and stole the vehicle and drove away. The vehicle was later recovered in Mission.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Gallegos was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rosebud Man Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on May 8, 2023.
Daymon Oliver, 41, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Oliver was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 6, 2023.
On the evening of July 19, 2022, Oliver and the victim were consuming alcohol at their residence in Mission, South Dakota. Also present in the home were their two children. The victim fell asleep in their daughter’s room but awoke in the early morning hours to use the restroom. Oliver was also awake, and an argument ensued. The altercation became physical, and Oliver struck the victim in the face at least four times. The assault ended when their daughter intervened. The victim suffered a broken jaw that required surgical repair.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Oliver was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance to an Individual Under 21 Years of Age, was sentenced on May 1, 2023, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Charles Richards, Jr., age 53, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by six years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Richards was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury, and pleaded guilty in February of 2023. The conviction stems from Richards distributing controlled substances to children under 21 years of age between June and July of 2019.
The case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Poppen and Heather Sazama prosecuted the case.
Richards was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kansas Man Sentenced for Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Lawrence, Kansas, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on May 8, 2023.
Preston Yankton, 36, was sentenced to time served of approximately 15 months in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Yankton was indicted for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in December of 2021. He pleaded guilty on February 6, 2023.
In the early morning hours of November 7, 2021, Yankton was booked into the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Adult Corrections Facility and engaged in destructive, unsanitary behavior while in a cell. Corrections staff determined Yankton should be placed in a restraint chair. Yankton was non-compliant with initial commands that were given through the door and corrections staff entered Yankton’s cell. Yankton remained non-compliant with the commands and became combative. During the struggle, Yankton swung a closed fist and struck one of the corrections officers in the nose. Yankton swung again and struck another corrections officer in the jaw area. Neither corrections officer sustained serious injuries from the assault.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Yankton was released to begin his term of supervised release in Kansas.
St. Francis Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 8, 2023.
Brady Makes Room For Them, 38, was sentenced to two years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Makes Room For Them was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in June of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 2, 2023.
Makes Room For Them was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact on September 20, 2005. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment or student status. Makes Room For Them last registered in November of 2021, providing an address in Rapid City, South Dakota. Investigation revealed that Makes Room For Them never resided at his registered address in Rapid City. His whereabouts were unknown until he was located by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services in Rosebud, South Dakota, on January 27, 2022.
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, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Makes Room For Them was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Oklahoma Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and Possession of Contraband by InmateRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sapulpa, Oklahoma, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and Possession of Contraband by Inmate. The sentencing took place on May 8, 2023.
Charles Nathaniel Graves, age 37, was sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Graves was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2021 for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Graves was also indicted in August of 2022 for Possession of Contraband by Inmate. He pleaded guilty on July 8, 2022, for the first charge and he pleaded guilty on March 31, 2023, on the second charge.
The conviction for the Failure to Register as a Sex Offender charge stems from Graves failing to register as a sex offender as required by federal law between September 1, 2019, and July 7, 2021. Graves had previously been convicted of a sex offense in State court which requires him to register for 25 years upon his release.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The second conviction stems from an incident on March 25, 2022, when Graves, who was in federal custody at the Yankton County Jail in Yankton, South Dakota, was granted a furlough to attend a funeral. Upon his return, Graves was told he would be submitted to a full-body scan. Before the scan could occur, Graves removed a small package that he had inserted into his rectum that contained methamphetamine. He left the package in the room, but it was found by correctional officers and seized as evidence. The package was field-tested and was positive for approximately 5.26 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Yankton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
Graves was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Husband and Wife Found Guilty in Meth and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Salvador Madrigal Jr. (age 41) and Anahi Plascencia Cardona (age 33), both of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, following a four-day long jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls. Both defendants were convicted of one count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and one count of Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments. The verdicts were returned on May 5, 2023.
The charge of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in custody and/or a $10,000,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The charge of Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments carries a maximum penalty of twenty years in custody and/or a $500,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Madrigal Jr. and Plascencia Cardona were indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2021.
Salvador Madrigal Jr., and his wife Anahi Plascencia Cardona, were leaders of a South Dakota drug cell that was responsible for trafficking hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine into South Dakota from California and Mexico. The husband-and-wife team worked with other members of the conspiracy, including some of their family members, who have previously been charged and convicted, to aid in the transportation and distribution of well over one hundred pounds of methamphetamine and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Madrigal Jr. recruited his aunt, Maria Magana Zavala, and her husband William Hartwick, to make multiple trips to and from California to transport methamphetamine, marijuana, and money, promising them that this endeavor would be prosperous. Magana Zavala and Hartwick were instead sentenced to 70 months in custody for their involvement in the conspiracy. Madrigal Jr. also recruited his younger brother, Oscar Madrigal, to aid in the organization’s activities. Oscar Madrigal was sentenced to 120 months in custody for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance in July of 2022. Madrigal Jr. also involved his mother, Rosa Madrigal, in the money laundering conspiracy by arranging to have her make multiple deposits of cash into multiple institutions, to launder the proceeds of his drug trafficking organization. Rosa Madrigal was sentenced to 60 months in custody for Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments in August of 2022. Multiple other co-conspirators who were responsible for the sub-distribution of these drugs have also been charged and sentenced in federal court.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case alongside Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert, who also serves as a prosecutor with the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.
Presentence investigations were ordered, and sentencing dates for each defendant will be set in the future. The defendants were both remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
DOJ Recognizes National Fentanyl Awareness DayRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that today, May 9, is National Fentanyl Awareness Day.
One year ago, on the first National Fentanyl Awareness Day, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) opened the Faces of Fentanyl exhibit at DEA Headquarters—a wall that displays the photos of those who have lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning. The memorial started with 100 photos; over the past year, Americans from across the country have sent DEA more than 5,000 photos. It reflects the reality that fentanyl is killing Americans from all walks of life, in every state and community in this country. The youngest person on the wall is 17-months old. The oldest is 70 years old.
“Fentanyl is the greatest threat to Americans today. It kills more Americans between the ages of 18 to 45 than terrorism, than car accidents, than cancer, than COVID. It kills nearly 200 Americans every day. And the number of children under 14 dying from fentanyl poisoning has increased at an alarming rate,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “The two drug cartels responsible for bringing fentanyl into the United States—the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels—are intentionally driving addiction by selling fake pills and hiding fentanyl in other drugs, and they are reaching our kids through using social media platforms. I encourage you to use this day to talk to your families about the dangers of fentanyl and have an important conversation with your kids about who they are communicating with on social media.”
DEA urges the public to be vigilant about fentanyl and the deadly threat it poses:
- Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just two milligrams—the equivalent of a few grains of salt—can kill a person.
- Fentanyl comes in two forms: pills and powder. The Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are hiding fentanyl in fake pills that look like oxycodone, Xanax, and Percocet. The cartels are also mixing fentanyl powder in with cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. This is why many of the people poisoned by fentanyl had no idea they were even taking it.
- The cartels and their members and associates are using social media applications—including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat—and encrypted platforms—including WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Wire, and Wickr—to sell pills and powders that are advertised as something else but actually have fentanyl inside.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota works in conjunction with its state, local, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute drug offenses, including distribution resulting in overdose or serious bodily injury. We are committed to identifying the sources of these life-threatening drugs and aggressively pursuing charges that carry a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years in federal prison.
For additional facts about fentanyl, visit One Pill Can Kill.
National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person’s Awareness DayRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023, as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day.
The department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission, a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission — to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the department’s representatives on the commission — who are department leaders and subject matter experts — have participated in the Commission’s field hearings, which will continue through the summer. Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary.
In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating that it is a priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. The memorandum directed each United States Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction—along with their law enforcement partners at DOJ—to update and develop new plans for addressing public safety in Indian country.
In October 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The revised guidelines, which were updated for the first time in a decade, address when and how department employees work with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are protected during criminal justice proceedings. For the first time the guidelines include cultural and linguistic considerations for victims from American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Today and every day, we recognize, support, and stand with the disproportionate number of Native women in South Dakota who suffer violence in their communities and elsewhere in our state. Federal, Tribal, and State authorities are committed to ending this unacceptable scourge of violence and bringing to justice its perpetrators.
If you are aware of a person being victimized in any way, we urge you to call 911 and report it so that authorities can respond appropriately.
Man from the Ring Thunder Community 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 Ring Thunder, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The sentencing took place on May 2, 2023.
Marshall Knife, 39, was sentenced to five years and eleven 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.
Knife was indicted for Sexual Abuse of a Minor by a federal grand jury in April of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 23, 2023.
In September of 2020, Knife and other individuals were consuming alcohol at Knife’s residence in the Ring Thunder Community in Todd County, South Dakota. The victim, who was approximately 14-years old at the time, was also present. As the night progressed, Knife made a comment about wanting to take the victim’s virginity and proceeded to engage in sexual acts with the victim.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Knife was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kyle Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 28, 2023.
Shayne Justin Begay, 45, was sentenced to two eight-year terms in federal prison, to run consecutively, followed by five years of supervised release. Begay was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Begay was indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in December of 2021. He pleaded guilty on February 2, 2023.
The conviction stems from Begay filming two minor females while they showered at the Juvenile Detention Center in Kyle, South Dakota, where he was employed as a corrections officer.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Begay was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Allen Man Sentenced for Attempted Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced an Allen, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 28, 2023.
Kordelle Running Hawk, 24, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Running Hawk will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Running Hawk was indicted for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 6, 2023.
Running Hawk was arrested and federally indicted as a result of an undercover sex trafficking operation conducted during the 2022 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, targeting internet predators. Following multiple sexually explicit chats and text messages with a person Running Hawk believed to be a 14-year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover agent, Running Hawk proceeded to negotiate a time and place he would meet the minor to engage in unlawful sex acts. When Running Hawk 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 South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Running Hawk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Summerset Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Summerset, South Dakota, man for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm.
Jason Johnston, age 36, was indicted in April of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on April 28, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Johnston, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, knowingly being in possession of a Mossberg rifle and ammunition in Summerset in January of 2023. Johnston was also in possession of a privately made silencer.
The charges are merely accusations and Johnston is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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 is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Summerset Police Department, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Blair is prosecuting the case.
Johnston was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for June 27, 2023.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on April 17, 2023.
Michael Wilson, 46, was sentenced to 14 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.
Wilson was indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in June of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 20, 2023.
On January 30, 2022, a South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper observed Wilson traveling eastbound on Interstate 90, close to Spearfish, South Dakota. Wilson’s vehicle then slowed down, entered a median crossing and started traveling westbound toward Spearfish. When the trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle fled and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended when Wilson crashed his car in a housing development and fled on foot. A search of the vehicle revealed over 1300 grams of methamphetamine, other illegal substances, and $11,400 in cash. The investigation showed that Wilson was the driver of the vehicle and he was later arrested.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Spearfish Police Department, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Deadwood Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina S. Nelson prosecuted the case.
Wilson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Parmelee Man Sentenced for Prohibited Person in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Parmelee, South Dakota, man convicted of being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on May 2, 2023.
Alun James Guerue, age 27, was sentenced to time served from May 2, 2023, through August 14, 2023, equaling approximately three and half months of custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. He was also ordered to forfeit the Glock 19 pistol and ammunition involved in the matter.
Guerue was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2021. He pleaded guilty on January 19, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from an incident near Soldier Creek, South Dakota, on February 26, 2021, when a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling 83-mph in a 65-mph zone. The driver was identified as Guerue. A search of the vehicle uncovered a Glock 19 pistol, marijuana, and cocaine. The pistol belonged to Guerue, who was an unlawful user of a controlled substance, thus prohibited from possessing any firearms. The pistol had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce and foreign commerce
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan 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.
Guerue was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
New Underwood Man Indicted for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a New Underwood, South Dakota, man for Receipt of Child Pornography with a Prior Child Pornography Conviction and Possession of Child Pornography with a Prior Child Pornography Conviction.
Kent Joy, age 47, was indicted in March of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on April 28, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison, up to 20 years and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Joy, a person previously convicted for a child pornography offense, knowingly receiving and possessing child pornography between April 18, 2018, and September 19, 2022.
The charges are merely accusations and Joy is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The investigation is being conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Blair is prosecuting the case.
Joy was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for June 27, 2023.
Fort Thompson Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact of a ChildRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child. The sentencing took place on May 1, 2023.
Carl Estes, age 22, was sentenced to 13 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.
Estes was indicted by a federal grand jury in September of 2021. He pleaded guilty on January 19, 2023.
In the spring/summer of 2021, Estes was living with his girlfriend in Fort Thompson, on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation. Estes was observed touching the genitalia of his girlfriend’s child, who was five years old at the time of the offense. Estes admitted to investigators that he had sexually abused the victim and drew a diagram indicating which part of his hand he used in the sexual assault.
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 Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Estes was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Fort Thompson Man Indicted for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact.
Loren Goodlow, age 33, was indicted in April of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on April 24, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, five years up to lifetime supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Goodlow engaging in sexual acts with two minors who had attained the age of 12 years old but not attained the age of 16.
The charges are merely accusations and Goodlow is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Blair is prosecuting the case.
Goodlow was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for June 27, 2023.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on April 28, 2023.
Marcel Boyd, 37, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Boyd was indicted for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 2, 2023.
In August of 2022 in Rapid City, Boyd, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, was found in possession of a Taurus, 9x19 mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol, as well as 9mm caliber ammunition, which was found when Boyd came into contact with law enforcement after officers responded to a domestic violence call for service.
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.
Boyd was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Summerset Man Sentenced for Child Pornography and Assault on a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Summerset, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography and Assault on a Federal Officer. The sentencings took place on April 21, 2023.
As to the charge of Receipt of Child Pornography, Caleb Wayne Cook, 24, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
For the Assault on a Federal Officer, Cook was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, to be served consecutively to the other five-year sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay another $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Cook was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. He was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer in May of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 18, 2023.
Between September 2016 and December 2021, Cook used the Internet to download images of child pornography and videos depicting child pornography into his Dropbox account and other devices. This conduct was brought to the attention of law enforcement through a Cybertip sent by Dropbox to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. When the Dakota Territory Fugitive Taskforce executed the arrest warrant on Cook at his workplace, Deputy U.S. Marshals attempted to place Cook into custody. Cook pulled a handgun out of his waistband, racked the slide, and barricaded himself in a restroom. The Rapid City Special Response Team and their negotiators were called in and were able to talk Cook out of the restroom. Cook was placed under arrest for the child pornography charges and an additional charge for the assault on the Deputy U.S. Marshals.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox Sazama prosecuted the case.
Cook was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 24, 2023.
Matthew Shawn Buchko, 40, was sentenced to two 10-year terms in federal prison, to run concurrently, followed by five years of supervised release, to run concurrently. Buchko was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Buchko was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2021. He was found guilty at trial on January 20, 2023.
Buchko was federally indicted following a Cybertip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children in relation to an upload of child pornography using the application Discord. The Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce executed a search warrant on Buchko’s home and located multiple devices. A forensic examination of those devices found hundreds of images and videos of child pornography, as well as images and videos of child erotica and computer-generated child pornography.
This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins and Heather Sazama prosecuted the case.
Buchko was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on April 24, 2023.
Kyle Mackay, 33, 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.
Kyle Mackay was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in May of 2021. He pleaded guilty on January 20, 2023.
On January 28, 2021, law enforcement had contact with Mackay after he was reported as an unwanted subject at the gas station on East Highway 44 in Rapid City. Once he was identified, law enforcement discovered Mackay had an active arrest warrant. When he was searched, Mackay had a firearm on his person, as well as approximately a half ounce of methamphetamine. A check of the firearm showed it had been reported as stolen. Because of a previous felony conviction, Mackay is prohibited from being in possession of 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Rapid City Police Department, Dakota Territory Fugitive Task Force, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Mackay was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead 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 April 24, 2023.
Isaac Mathews, 41, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Isaac Mathews was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 25, 2023.
On May 10, 2022, law enforcement had contact with Mathews and recovered a firearm, along with a distributable amount of methamphetamine. Between 50 grams and 200 grams of methamphetamine were distributed during the course of the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, Martin Police Department, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Mathews was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on April 21, 2023.
Frank White Thunder, age 35, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
White Thunder was indicted by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 11, 2023.
White Thunder was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in 2008. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment. In February of 2022, White Thunder was released from prison and began a period of supervised release. White Thunder initially registered and resided at an address in Mission, but he subsequently moved from his registered address and did not update his registration. His whereabouts were unknown until his arrest in Mission on August 13, 2022.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
White Thunder was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Hot Springs Man Sentenced for Attempted Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Hot Springs, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 20, 2023.
Brian Lynn Spitzer, 59, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and a $5,000 special assessment to the Victims of Trafficking Fund. Spitzer will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Spitzer was indicted for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in January of 2021. He pleaded guilty on December 7, 2022.
Spitzer was arrested and federally indicted after attempting to exploit an undercover law enforcement agent posing as a 14-year-old female. Spitzer sent the undercover agent multiple sexually explicit messages between August of 2020 and September of 2020.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey Blair and Heather Sazama prosecuted the case.
Spitzer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lead Man Sentenced for Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Lead, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 14, 2023.
William Jacob Stone, 73, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Stone was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in September of 2021. He pleaded guilty on December 16, 2022.
Between March 2020 and June 2021, Stone used the internet to download visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He then used Adobe PhotoShop software and his Apple iPad to superimpose naked images of himself sexually abusing the child pornography images he had downloaded, as well as clothed photos of local children known to Stone through his decades-long career as a school bus driver. This conduct was brought to the attention of law enforcement through a Cybertip sent by Adobe to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox Sazama prosecuted the case.
Stone was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Found Guilty of Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Sky Thomas Roubideaux, age 23, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on April 20, 2023.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Roubideaux was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2022.
Roubideaux, using his cellular phone, attempted to knowingly entice a minor individual, namely an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old male, to engage in sexual activity.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper 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.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has been set for July 10, 2023. Roubideaux was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Custer Man Indicted for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Custer, South Dakota, man for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.
Nathan Frisch, age 42, was indicted in March of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on April 3, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of five years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count of conviction. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Frisch downloading child pornography images from the Internet and transferring them from his laptop to the Google Drive account installed on his cellular phone.
The charges are merely accusations and Frisch is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Sazama 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.
Frisch was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for June 6, 2023.
Crow Creek Man Convicted by Federal Jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Child AbuseRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that James Drapeau, age 35, of Crow Creek, South Dakota, was found guilty of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Child Abuse as a result of a two-day federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on April 20, 2023.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of up to twenty years in federal prison and/or a $500,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Drapeau was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2022.
The evidence at trial showed that on May 24, 2022, at a residence on the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation, Drapeau became upset with a 14-year-old boy who was in his care. Drapeau threw the boy on the ground, kicked him repeatedly, and beat him with a broom stick and extension cord. As a result of the beating, the young boy sustained considerable bruising, welts, and abrasions on his head, back, arms, torso, buttocks, and legs.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation report was ordered, and sentencing has been set for July 24, 2023. Drapeau was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Sisseton Man Indicted for MurderRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sisseton, South Dakota, man for First Degree Murder.
Jay Adams, Jr., age 57, was indicted in April of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on April 17, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is mandatory life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about September 4, 1992, in Roberts County, Adams killed a minor victim by inflicting fatal blunt force trauma.
The charge is merely an accusation and Adams is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.
Adams was released on conditions pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Sturgis 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 Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on April 14, 2023.
Dallas Ford, 29, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Ford was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 6, 2023.
The charge stems from Ford illegal possessing a .22 caliber, semi-automatic pistol in December of 2021 in Sturgis.
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, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, and the Sturgis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Ford was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Statement of U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell on the Passing of Former U.S. Attorney Randy SeilerRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS – Today, United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell of the District of South Dakota issued the following statement on the death of former U.S. Attorney Randy Seiler:
“With profound sadness, our office mourns the untimely passing of our friend and former colleague Randy Seiler. Randy served South Dakota for over two decades as a federal prosecutor and, ultimately, as United States Attorney. He led with unparalleled dedication to the cause of justice and equality under the law. Randy was an inspiring and tenacious leader, and we will miss him dearly. Our thoughts are with Randy’s wife, Wanda, and their family during this difficult time.”