District of South Dakota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to over 4 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Anthony Braden Jewett, 31, was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Jewett was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.
On New Years Day, 2025, Sioux Falls Police responded to a report of a shooting at an apartment building in town. Upon arrival, they found a male victim with a gunshot wound to his leg. Investigation revealed the victim had gone to the door of Jewett’s apartment to confront him about a previous incident. During the altercation, Jewett produced a handgun and shot the victim in the leg. Jewett is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he has multiple prior felony convictions.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Jewett was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Deputy U.S. Marshal and Threatening to Murder Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting a Federal Officer and Threatening a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on May 8, 2026.
Franklin Long Black Cat, 32, was sentenced to serve three years and five months in federal prison for the Assaulting a Federal Officer conviction to run concurrently with the Threatening a Federal Officer conviction, followed by three years of supervised release. Long Black Cat was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Long Black Cat was indicted for Assaulting a Federal Officer and two counts of Threatening a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in November 2025. He was found guilty following a two-day jury trial on January 29, 2026.
On November 18, 2025, Long Black Cat was in the custody of the United States Marshals Service at the federal courthouse in Rapid City in connection with a court hearing. Long Black Cat spit in the face of one Deputy United States Marshal and threatened to shoot two other Deputy United States Marshals.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Long Black Cat was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Peever Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Two Assault ConvictionsRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Peever, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault by Striking, Beating, or Wounding. The sentencing took place on June 1, 2026.
Brandon Jared St. John, age 45, was sentenced to six years and five months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $125 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
St. John was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025.
On July 28, 2021, St. John assaulted Crystal Diane White by kicking her with boots, which constituted a dangerous weapon. St. John’s intent was to cause White physical harm. At the same time, St. John also assaulted Shelby Candace Renville by striking, beating, and wounding her. Both victims sustained bodily injuries because of St. John’s conduct.
The assaults took place in the tribal community of Sisseton, South Dakota. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate’s Law Enforcement office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
St. John was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
Federal Jury Finds Sioux Falls Man Guilty of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the InternetRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Ryan Nigro, age 34, 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 June 4, 2026.
The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of up to life, and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Nigro was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024.
Nigro started a conversation on Reddit, a popular communication/posting website, with a person he believed was a 12-year-old girl. The conversation turned sexual, and he asked the 12-year-old girl to meet up hoping to have a sexual encounter with her. Nigro arrived at the meet location where he was arrested by law enforcement. All along, unbeknownst to him, Nigro had actually been chatting with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 12-year-old girl.
This case was brought as part of an undercover chat operation designed to identify individuals in the community who are interested in having sex with minors. The case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Police Department, Watertown Police Department, Tea Police Department, Rapid City Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth E. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered; a sentencing date will be set at a later time. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Fargo Man Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann, has sentenced a man from Fargo, North Dakota, convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on June 1, 2026.
William Dean Locke, 38, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Locke was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025.
Locke was previously convicted of a federal sex offense. Because of his conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. Locke was aware of his obligation to register and to keep his registration current with officials within the county in which he resided. Nonetheless, from July through late August 2025, Locke knowingly failed to register and update his registration.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Locke was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
This case was brought as a 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. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Agency Village Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Agency Village, South Dakota, convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death. The sentencing took place June 1, 2026.
Canaan Renville, 27, was sentenced to 21 years and 10 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.
Renville was indicted for of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025.
On October 9, 2024, law enforcement responded to a residence in Sisseton, where they found a deceased male victim in the living room of his apartment. Near the victim’s body was a small piece of aluminum foil with trace amounts of fentanyl powder. An autopsy confirmed the victim’s cause of death as fentanyl toxicity. A search of the victim’s cell phone revealed a series of messages between him and Renville indicating that the victim had been purchasing fentanyl from Renville. The messages showed that the victim had purchased fentanyl from Renville only hours before his death. Investigators executed a search warrant on Renville’s residence and found both fentanyl pills and fentanyl powder. Renville admitted selling the fentanyl powder to the victim that resulted in the overdose and death.
“At the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, we depend on strong partnerships to confront the fentanyl crisis,” said Deputy Associate Director Tom Atkinson. “The significant sentence in this case reflects the deadly harm caused by fentanyl and highlights our outstanding partnerships with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the FBI, the Sisseton Police Department, and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Renville was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Child Solicitation and Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet and Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on June 1, 2026.
On each charge, Brockton Dominquez, 28, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Each sentence was ordered to run concurrently with the other for a total of 20 years. Dominquez was also ordered to pay restitution of $10,000 to a victim of his child pornography offense.
Dominquez was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in August 2024 and February 2026. He pleaded guilty on February 17, 2026.
On July 12, 2024, Dominquez used his Facebook account to begin an online conversation with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl but was, unbeknownst to Dominquez, an undercover police officer. On August 2, 2024, Dominquez reinitiated conversation with the girl and made arrangements to meet with who he believed would be the 14-year-old girl at West Middle School in Rapid City. Dominquez arrived only to find police officers on scene to arrest him.
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’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Dominquez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Hometown Hero, Gayle Scott, Recognized for Dedication to Victim JusticeRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that the District of South Dakota has recognized Federal Bureau of Investigation Victim Specialist Gayle Scott as a “Hometown Hero” for her career serving crime victims in South Dakota. Ms. Scott has served with the FBI for 24 years. Prior to her federal service, she worked with crime victims in a similar role with the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney Office. Ms. Scott brings unique qualities to this work, day in and day out. She exudes warmth and compassion, provides comfort and support, and respectfully encourages participation in the criminal justice process. Throughout her years of service,
Ms. Scott has worked with crime victims in hundreds of cases, helping them through difficult investigations and trials. Ms. Scott’s work has directly resulted in victims finding the courage necessary to bring justice to dangerous perpetrators, thereby making our communities safer for all.
Ms. Scott was honored during an award presentation held Monday at the United States Attorney’s Office in Sioux Falls.
“Gayle Scott is most deserving of this high honor for her tireless work with victims of crime over many years,” said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons. “With compassion and dignity, she has stood with countless victims and their families, listened to them, lifted them up, and helped them find their voice in order to bring justice to those who have harmed them. It is a true honor to recognize, thank, and celebrate Gayle for her outstanding service to the people of the District of South Dakota. She is truly our Hometown Hero.”
“Victim Specialist Scott has dedicated herself, personally and professionally, to the victims of federal crime for the past 24 years,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “Her exceptionally dedicated and always humble service to crime victims and witnesses in South Dakota is almost always done behind-the-scenes, but her work is an integral part of the FBI’s mission: to protect the public and ensure justice for all. I thank Gayle and all of the FBI’s dedicated Victim Specialists for the work they do every day to serve victims and survivors.”This award was presented as part of the Department of Justice’s Freedom 250 initiative, a nationwide effort in which United States Attorneys’ Offices across the country recognize individuals whose service, courage, leadership, and commitment have made a meaningful impact in their communities in advance of America’s 250th Anniversary.
The award presentation was attended by members of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota, members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Ms. Scott’s family.
Rapid City Couple Indicted on Federal Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Rapid City, South Dakota, man and woman for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Misty Standing Bear, age 49, and Mason Big Crow, age 52, were indicted in May 2026. Both appeared last week before United States Magistrate Judge Mark W. Haigh and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years custody up to life in federal prison, a $10,000,000 fine, or both, at least five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Beginning at least in 2021, Standing Bear and Big Crow engaged in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in and around the Pine Ridge Reservation and the Rapid City area. In a conspiracy spanning several years, the defendants traveled to other states to purchase thousands of counterfeit M/30 fentanyl pills and trafficked the fentanyl to South Dakota for further distribution. Investigators discovered Standing Bear and Big Crow actively engaged in fentanyl trafficking as recently as May 2026 when Standing Bear traveled to Colorado, at Big Crow’s direction, with the intent to purchase 1,000 counterfeit M/30 fentanyl pills. Big Crow and Standing Bear paid for at least a portion of the fentanyl they trafficked in South Dakota with tribal funds through fraudulent tribal assistant checks when Big Crow was the treasurer for the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
“We look forward to proving these crimes in federal court and holding these two fentanyl traffickers accountable for their actions,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.
“Mason Big Crow, already alleged to have committed crimes against his community for personal gain, is now alleged to have conspired to distribute dangerous narcotics to that same community along with his wife Misty Standing Bear,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “Fentanyl is a scourge on our communities. The FBI and our federal, state, and tribal partners will work tirelessly to track down and bring to justice anyone who risks the lives and safety of others in order to profit from its distribution.”
The charge is merely an accusation, and Misty Standing Bear and Mason Big Crow are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay is prosecuting the case.
Standing Bear was released on bond pending trial. Big Crow was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Rapid City Woman Sentenced to over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 26, 2026.
Judith Brewer, 40, was sentenced to two years and six 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.
Brewer was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in December 2025. She pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026.
In November 2025, law enforcement responded to a residence in Rapid City after a person reported that Brewer was at her home and unwanted. Brewer had since fled to another home, where deputies found her hiding along with a bag she had taken from the reporting party. Brewer was arrested on outstanding warrants and found to be in possession of a 9mm pistol. Brewer knew she was prohibited from possessing firearms based on her having a prior felony conviction.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Brewer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Woman Causing Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation. The sentencing took place on May 22, 2026.
Jeremy Old Horse, 40, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $200 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Old Horse was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026.
On January 25, 2025, an Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety officer responded to a residence and observed a female victim who had been recently assaulted. Old Horse repeatedly used his knee to assault the victim in the face, breaking multiple bones in her face. Old Horse also strangled the victim during the assault. The victim advised law enforcement that she had been tortured by Old Horse to find out what information she had provided to law enforcement about an assault that occurred one month before.
“This was a brutal assault,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “We commend the victim’s bravery.”
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandating certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Old Horse was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Jayson “Javi” Gomez, 31, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $95 in restitution and $100 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture was also ordered.
Gomez was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 13, 2026.
On August 5, 2025, during the 2025 Sturgis Bike Rally, Gomez initiated communications on MeetMe with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. The girl, in fact, was a Rapid City Police Detective operating in an undercover capacity on the Internet-based application, MeetMe, used for dating and “hookups.” Gomez gave his cell number to the undercover persona and started communicating with her through texting. Gomez told her that they would have “Netflix and chill moments,” which is a slang term for having sexual intercourse while watching a movie. Gomez and the undercover persona made arrangements for him to pick her up at a predetermined location. When Gomez showed up at the location, he was arrested. Ultimately, Gomez admitted he intended to, and would have had, sex with the 14-year-old girl had she been a real person.
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’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Gomez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 26, 2026.
John Brave Bird, age 52, was sentenced to 10 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.
Brave Bird was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2026. He pleaded guilty on February 25, 2026.
Brave Bird was convicted of Sexual Abuse in United States District Court, District of South Dakota in June 2007. As a result of his conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or change in employment or student status. In October 2025, Brave Bird updated his sex offender registration to reflect that he was residing at a residence in Sioux Falls. Brave Bird left that residence in early October and did not update his registration. An arrest warrant was issued, and on November 25, 2025, Brave Bird was arrested in Sioux Falls.
This case was brought as a 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. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit 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 United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case.
Brave Bird was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rosebud Man and Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man and woman, both from Rosebud, South Dakota, following their convictions for Voluntary Manslaughter.
Jamie Clairmont, a/k/a Jamie Clairmont-Rogers, age 42, pleaded guilty on January 26, 2026. On May 19, 2026, she was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Keanu Marshall, age 21, pleaded guilty on January 29, 2026. On May 26, 2026, he was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Clairmont and Marshall were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
The convictions stem from an incident that occurred on April 9, 2024, in Rosebud, South Dakota, in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, the victim, an adult male, was walking when he confronted a group of people. He picked up a piece of wood and swung it at Clairmont. Clairmont took the piece of wood and struck the victim with it. Marshall then repeatedly punched the victim, knocking him to the ground. The victim was hospitalized with traumatic injuries to the head and face, and he passed away on April 19, 2024.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Clairmont and Marshall were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at the conclusion of their individual sentencing hearings.
Denver Man Sentenced to 45 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Denver, Colorado, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. The sentencing took place on May 22, 2026.
Juan Sertuche, 43, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on the charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl charges and five years in federal prison on the firearm charge. The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively. Sertuche was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following service of his term of imprisonment, and to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Sertuche was indicted for all three charges by a federal grand jury in June 2025 and was subsequently convicted by a federal trial jury of all charges following a three-day jury trial in January of this year.
Between 2002 and September 2023, Sertuche led a drug distribution conspiracy and provided approximately 500 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 33,000 fentanyl pills to multiple sub-distributors to be further distributed in the Rapid City and Pine Ridge areas of South Dakota. On one occasion, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of couriers who Sertuche had directed to travel from Denver to the Rapid City area. During the traffic stop, law enforcement discovered 19 pounds of methamphetamine intended to be further distributed in the Rapid City area. In September 2023, Sertuche was arrested following a traffic stop in Jackson County where he was found to be in possession of approximately 1,500 fentanyl pills that he intended to further distribute.
Following his arrest, Sertuche continued to direct others he was conspiring with to continue the drug distribution efforts, including by collecting money and making trips to Denver to pick up methamphetamine and fentanyl. Sertuche also directed another person on several occasions to collect numerous firearms that were part of his drug dealing to Denver to be traded for methamphetamine. Law enforcement was able to recover those firearms, including two fully automatic machine guns, before they could be taken and used as currency for drugs.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Wyoming State Highway Patrol, and the North Metro Denver Drug Task Force. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.
Sertuche was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Watertown Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Charles B. Kornmann sentenced a Watertown, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Kyle Ashton Carpenter, 26, was sentenced to a term of 12 months in custody, which he had served since his arrest in May 2025, as well as three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Carpenter was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025.
Carpenter was found in possession of a handgun following an incident in early May 2025. He is prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of his prior felony conviction for assaulting a law enforcement officer. He was aware of his prohibition, yet he purchased a handgun and used it at a firing range. The handgun was seized and it will be forfeited.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Carpenter was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Three Mission Men Sentenced in Second Degree Murder CaseRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Second Degree Murder, Commission of a Crime of Violence While Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, Robbery, Assault With a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Frank White Thunder, age 38, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $600 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
White Thunder and co-defendants Jesse White Thunder, age 41, and Michael Leader Charge, age 25, both also of Mission, were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
On October 6, 2025, Jesse White Thunder and Michael Leader Charge each pleaded guilty to Accessory After the Fact to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon. Both men were sentenced on February 17, 2026. Jesse White Thunder was sentenced to three years and five 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. Michael Leader Charge was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Frank White Thunder proceeded to a federal jury trial that concluded on January 30, 2026. At trial, the evidence established that on the evening of October 22, 2024, Michael Leader Charge drove Frank White Thunder and Jesse White Thunder to a residence in the Antelope housing community, near Mission, in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Frank White Thunder confronted the victim outside the residence and stabbed him in the torso with a martial-arts style sword, mortally wounding the victim. Jesse White Thunder was standing nearby and immediately took from the victim’s pockets two imitation pistols. Surveillance video showed the defendants’ vehicle leaving the scene and all three men were located the next day.
Frank 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 any change in residence. At the time of the murder, he had an active federal arrest warrant for failing to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the United States Marshals Service, and the FBI. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Frank White Thunder, Jesse White Thunder, and Michael Leader Charge were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at the conclusion of their individual sentencing hearings.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on May 19, 2026.
Eli Poorman, 20, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $95 in restitution and $100 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture was also ordered.
Poorman was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in August 2024. He pleaded guilty on January 5, 2026.
On August 3, 2024, during the 2024 Sturgis Bike Rally, Poorman used his Reddit account to begin chatting with someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl but was, unbeknownst to Poorman, an undercover police officer. Poorman arranged to meet with what he believed would be a 13-year-old girl at his apartment to have sex in exchange for money. The same day, Poorman exited his apartment building in south Rapid City to meet with the undercover persona and was arrested by law enforcement officers. Later, investigators learned Poorman had for the previous six months been communicating on the internet with minor aged girls sending them explicit photographs of himself and seeking, in return, sexually explicit photographs of the young girls.
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’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Poorman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced to 20 Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Jeremy David Red Bear, 33, was sentenced to one year and eight 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.
Red Bear was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He pleaded guilty on September 29, 2025.
Red Bear is required to register as a sex offender, which entails periodic in-person registration. On October 23, 2024, his compliance officer directed Red Bear to verify his registration in person by October 30, 2024. Red Bear did not do so until his arrest on January 27, 2025.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act Compliance Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Red Bear was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
This case was brought as a 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. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Manderson Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison Following Federal Convictions for First Degree Murder and ArsonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler sentenced a Manderson, South Dakota, man convicted of First Degree Felony Murder, Assault With Intent to Commit Arson, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Arson. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Reno Rondeau, age 52, was sentenced to serve the remainder of his life in federal prison for the convictions and ordered to pay $400 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rondeau was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024. He was found guilty of the charges following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City on February 5, 2026.
In October 2024, Rondeau intentionally set fire to his brother’s residence near Manderson, South Dakota. When he set the fire, Rondeau knew the home was occupied by his brother and his brother’s friend, Tanya White Butterfly. Sadly, Ms. White Butterfly, a former correctional officer with the Oglala Sioux Tribe, perished in the fire. While Rondeau’s brother, John Rondeau, Sr., ultimately escaped the fire, he sustained burn injuries while trying to save White Butterfly’s life. The residence was completely destroyed in the fire.
“This was a truly horrific crime and we grieve for the victims and their loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Life in prison was the maximum punishment allowable by law in these circumstances, and we are grateful to the Court for this sentence. Although Reno Rondeau will spend the rest of his life in a federal prison cell, it still somehow does not seem nearly long enough.”
"While no prison term can fill the void left in the lives of Ms. White Butterfly's family, we hope they will feel a sense of justice having been served, through this sentence," said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. "Reno Rondeau will now spend the rest of his life in federal prison where he rightly belongs. FBI Agents, Analysts, and professional staff work tirelessly to find justice for victims of violent crimes and protect our communities. I offer our deepest sympathies to both victims of this horrendous crime and their families."
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen and Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox handled the prosecution.
Rondeau was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Little Eagle Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Gaylan George Little Eagle, age 42, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Little Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on September 29, 2025.
On August 25, 2024, Little Eagle had sexual intercourse with an unconscious guest on a couch at a house party in McLaughlin, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. Another attendee caught Little Eagle in the act and stabbed him in the back as Little Eagle departed. The victim had no idea what happened to her when she awoke.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Little Eagle was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
Dupree Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing a WomanRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on May 11, 2026.
Floyd Clown, Jr., age 41, 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.
Clown was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 6, 2026.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in Dupree, South Dakota, within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. On March 11, 2025, Clown invited the victim inside his residence and then forced her to have sexual contact with him after she refused his entreaties and told him to stop his advances.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Clown was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Crooks Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Hundreds of Pounds of Methamphetamine in Sioux Falls AreaRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Crooks, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Cary Ludens, 50, was sentenced to 13 years and 3 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.
Ludens was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.
Ludens was involved in a drug trafficking organization that obtained methamphetamine from Arizona and distributed those drugs throughout South Dakota. The group trafficked the drugs both through the U.S. Mail and via cross-country car trips. Investigators became aware of the group and seized a methamphetamine-laden package that contained over four pounds of methamphetamine in December 2024. Investigators later seized two parcels sent from Sioux Falls to Arizona that contained a combined total of approximately $26,000. Ludens’ role in the conspiracy was as a distributor who obtained methamphetamine from a co-conspirator in South Dakota and then distributed it to others. Investigators determined that Ludens was responsible for distributing approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Ludens was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Bryant Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann sentenced a Bryant, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Jerry Allan Kretzschmar, 44, was sentenced to two years and six 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.
Kretzschmar was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025.
On February 5, 2025, investigators with the Hamlin County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at Kretzschmar’s residence in Bryant. The search yielded numerous firearms and drug-related items. Investigators then obtained a second search warrant for a farm property south of Bryant, which Kretzschmar utilized for storage. Several additional firearms were located during the search of that property. A total of 12 firearms were seized between the two properties. Kretzschmar is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous felony conviction.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Hamlin County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Kretzschmar was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Robert Kent, 31, was sentenced to seven years and six months in federal prison, followed by five of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Kent was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026.
Kent was part of a drug trafficking organization that was obtaining methamphetamine from Arizona and then distributing it in the Sioux Falls area. Kent’s role in the group was to distribute the methamphetamine in town. Investigators discovered Kent was responsible for dealing approximately one pound of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Kent was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Porcupine Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting A Young Girl in the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The sentencing took place on May 19, 2026.
Deshawn Pourier, 24, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Pourier was ordered to pay a $100 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.
Pourier was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 11, 2026.
Pourier sought images of naked young girls on the internet and ultimately communicated with a particular young girl using an alias. He convinced the girl to send compromising pictures of herself and soon began demanding more such images. When the young girl hesitated, Pourier threatened to share her previous images with others on social media. Feeling threatened, the young girl complied with the extortion and continued to send more nude images.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Pourier was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for BurglaryRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Third Degree Burglary. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Jack Daniel Thomas, age 31, 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 and over $5,000 in restitution to several victims.
Thomas was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on September 16, 2025.
During the early morning hours of April 2, 2025, Thomas broke into several cars and the CHS storage shed in McLaughlin, South Dakota, in the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. He stole over $1,000 worth of tools from the storage shed and an iPad from one of the vehicles. He had committed several similar offenses in the past.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.
This case was investigated by the Corson County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Thomas was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
Bismarck Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Dale David Glick, 31, was sentenced to one year 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. This sentence runs consecutively to a nine-month sentence for a supervised release revocation.
Glick was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on September 29, 2025.
Glick was previously federally convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. As a result, he is required to register as a sex offender. Following his most recent release from federal prison on January 24, 2025, Glick registered his aunt’s address as his primary residence even though he was living with his girlfriend in McLaughlin, South Dakota. Glick moved to Bismarck, North Dakota in mid-May. He only updated his registration on June 26, 2025, following his arrest for violating his federal supervised release.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Glick was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
This case was brought as a 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. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Omaha, Nebraska Woman Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced an Omaha, Nebraska, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Patricia Lawson, 55, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Lawson was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in December 2024. She pleaded guilty on February 23, 2026.
Lawson was part of a multi-state conspiracy that trafficked methamphetamine from Omaha to Sioux Falls. Lawson was responsible for obtaining methamphetamine in Omaha and then distributing it to South Dakota based co-conspirators either by driving the methamphetamine to Sioux Falls herself or meeting with co-conspirators who drove to Omaha. She also sent drug proceeds through multiple money wire transfers directly to people in Mexico at the direction of a co-conspirator. During her involvement in the conspiracy, Lawson was involved in trafficking approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges handled the prosecution of the case.
Lawson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Fargo, North Dakota Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for EscapeRead the Press Release
Sioux Falls - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Fargo, North Dakota man convicted of Escape. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Traye Mjelde, 29, was sentenced to one year in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Mjelde was indicted for Escape by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 16, 2026.
Mjelde was initially sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after being convicted of possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. In April 2025, the Bureau of Prisons transferred him to a residential reentry center in Sioux Falls to finish the remaining term of his sentence. Mjelde walked away from the facility without authorization about two weeks later. Law enforcement found Mjelde approximately one month later and arrested him.
This case was investigated by United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Mjelde was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota Woman Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on May 11, 2026.
Amanda Thompson, 36, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Thompson was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in December 2024. She pleaded guilty on January 21, 2026.
Thompson worked with others to obtain methamphetamine in Omaha during multiple trips and then redistributed those drugs in Sioux Falls. She also sent drug proceeds through multiple money wire transfers directly to people in Mexico at the direction of a co-conspirator. During her involvement in the conspiracy, Thompson was involved in trafficking over four pounds of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges handled the prosecution of the case.
Thompson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Convicted of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Kyle Beck, age 23, of Rapid City, South Dakota, was found guilty of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography, following a federal jury trial in Rapid City. The verdict was returned on May 12, 2026.
The charges carry a mandatory minimum of 15 years of imprisonment and a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Beck was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024.
The convictions stem from an incident that occurred in Rapid City in May 2023. At trial, the evidence established that on May 28, 2023, Beck messaged a 15-year-old girl via Instagram and requested sexually explicit photographs of her. Beck was subsequently interviewed and admitted to his conduct.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as a 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. Attorney’s 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 sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. Beck was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lower Brule Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on May 11, 2026.
Latrelle LaRoche, age 20, was sentenced to six years and six 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.
LaRoche was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 12, 2026.
The conviction stems from a shooting that occurred on June 19, 2025, in the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation. While inside the victim’s residence, LaRoche argued with the victim over money LaRoche owed him. LaRoche fired a warning shot and then fired a second time, striking the victim in the abdomen. The victim sustained serious bodily injury requiring medical treatment and surgery.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services-Lower Brule Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
LaRoche was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lower Brule Man Sentenced to over 4 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on May 12, 2026.
Isiah Harding, age 28, was sentenced to four years and eight months in federal prison, followed by three of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hardin was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 4, 2026.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on June 7, 2025, in the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation. A Bureau of Indian Affairs officer made contact with Hardin who was standing in the middle of the street, yelling loudly. Hardin was agitated and began to physically struggle with the officer. Hardin kicked and hit the officer several times causing the officer to suffer serious bodily injury requiring surgery.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services-Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Hardin was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Ammunition as a Felon and While Actively Engaged in the Use of a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 8, 2026.
Bradley Two Eagle, 27, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Two Eagle was indicted for Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in November 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 28, 2026.
On October 17, 2025, the Rapid City Police Department responded to an emergency call reporting that gunshots had been fired. Law enforcement spoke with Two Eagle, who gave a false identity and then fled from the officers. As Two Eagle ran, he threw ammunition to the ground. Law enforcement caught Two Eagle. They recovered his discarded ammunition and also found a methamphetamine syringe on him. Two Eagle had previously been convicted of a felony offense. Possessing ammunition or firearms after such a conviction is a federal felony. It is also a federal felony to possess ammunition or firearms while actively engaged in the use of a controlled substance such as methamphetamine.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Two Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eagle Butte Man Convicted of Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Emanual Semon, age 24, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, of Sexual Abuse Without Consent and Sexual Abuse of a Minor, following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on May 7, 2026.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of any term of years up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Semon was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024.
The convictions stem from an incident that occurred at a residence in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in July 2024. At trial, the evidence established that on the afternoon of July 3, 2024, Semon engaged in sexual activity with a juvenile female without her consent. Semon stopped when an adult entered the room and interrupted him.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as a 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. Attorney’s 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 sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. Semon was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Parmelee Man Acquitted of AssaultRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Parmelee, South Dakota, man was acquitted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence following a federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota, on May 7, 2026.
Joey Kills Plenty, age 26, was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2025.
The charges related to an allegation that Kills Plenty assaulted a man with a firearm in August 2025, in Todd County in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because federal law mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
The investigation was conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case.
U.S. Court of Appeals Affirms Federal Prison Sentence of More than Thirty Years for El Salvador Man Convicted of Possession and Conspiracy to Distribute Sixteen Pounds of FentanylRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has affirmed a federal prison sentence of more than thirty years issued by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann to an El Salvador man following his conviction by a federal jury in Aberdeen, South Dakota, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place at the federal courthouse in Aberdeen on September 15, 2025. The appeal was argued at the federal courthouse in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 19, 2026. The Eighth Circuit issued its opinion and judgment affirming the sentence on May 7, 2026.
Edwin Giovanni Salinas, 47, an illegal alien from El Salvador who was living in Los Angeles, California, was sentenced to serve 365 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.Salinas left California with a backpack he used to transport approximately three pounds of pure China and Mexican cartel-sourced fentanyl powder and nearly 50,000 fentanyl pills laced with horse tranquilizer. One of the bags of fentanyl seized from Salinas was marked with the word “CHINA.” The pills were manufactured to look like prescription oxycodone pills. In all, Salinas was seeking to distribute approximately sixteen pounds of fentanyl, presumably to communities across the Midwest. The immediate destination for the drugs was believed to be a designated meeting spot at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The approximate street value of the drugs was estimated at $2,000,000.
Salinas was traveling with the illegal drugs in a speeding car with California plates at four in the morning near the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, with an individual he recruited to drive. The vehicle was stopped and the contraband found and seized by a deputy with the Roberts County Sheriff’s Department and a police officer with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe. Salinas was convicted on both felony counts following a five-day jury trial.
At sentencing, the district court made factual findings, credited on appeal, that Salinas “had enough fentanyl to kill 500,000 people” and that this was one of “the biggest drug bust[s] in the history of South Dakota.” The appellate court also affirmed a sentencing enhancement imposed by the district court for threatening his co-defendant and placing her in fear when they were in U.S. Marshals custody and traveling to federal court.
“Case closed,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “The incredible vigilance and professionalism demonstrated by these on-duty law enforcement officers with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police and Roberts County Sheriff’s Office unquestionably saved lives.”
This case was investigated by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribal Police, the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Division of Drug Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy R. Jehangiri and Paige Petersen prosecuted the case. Following sentencing, Salinas was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service before being transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. The Mexican drug cartels responsible for the fentanyl smuggled into the United States—primarily the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Cartel—operate global criminal enterprises and rely on a global supply chain, with most fentanyl and its chemical precursors originating from China. In 2025, DEA seized more than 47 million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder, equivalent to more than 369 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
Nigerian Man Indicted on Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that in March 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Kenneth Godwin, a Nigerian man, for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Unauthorized Access to a Protected Computer in Furtherance of Fraud.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 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.
Between May 2023 and March 2026, Godwin, while believed to be living in Nigeria, conspired with others to embezzle funds from the Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, in order to enrich themselves.
“No agency on earth is better at this than the FBI,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “They will track down those who steal from and commit fraud against the people of the United States wherever those offenders may be.”
“This international business e-mail compromise (BEC) scheme caused substantial financial damage to a business owned and operated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “This indictment is an example of how the FBI operates every day to dismantle and disrupt criminal enterprises in Indian County and across the United States that target businesses and citizens in communities. The message is clear; we will work with our partners to hold fraudsters accountable.”
The charges are merely accusations, and Godwin is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Tea Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Bags of Fentanyl and Hundreds of Pounds of Methamphetamine in Sioux Falls AreaRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Tea, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on May 4, 2026.
Matthew Shade, 48, was sentenced to 21 years and 6 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.
Shade was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 10, 2026.
“This was another skillfully managed takedown of a serial drug dealer and his operation by the dedicated officers on the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, with a strong assist from the Criminal Investigations Unit of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “In all likelihood, the fentanyl and methamphetamine seized from this criminal’s operation would have killed some people who are alive right now in Sioux Falls. This investigation, prosecution, and substantial federal prison sentence has given them another chance at life. I will never stop being grateful for that.”
Shade was the local leader of a drug trafficking organization that obtained methamphetamine and fentanyl from Arizona and distributed those drugs throughout South Dakota. The group trafficked the drugs both through the U.S. Mail and via cross-country car trips. Investigators became aware of the group and seized a methamphetamine-laden package that contained over four pounds of methamphetamine in December 2024. Investigators later seized two parcels sent from Sioux Falls to Arizona that contained a combined total of approximately $26,000. Eventually, investigators became aware that Shade’s Arizona-based source of supply was traveling by car to South Dakota and arranged to have the South Dakota Highway Patrol conduct a traffic stop. A trooper thereafter stopped and searched the vehicle, wherein he found approximately 26 pounds of methamphetamine and over 2,000 fentanyl pills. Investigators then discovered that Shade had traveled to Arizona and they thereafter intercepted a package bound for Sioux Falls that was found to contain 144 grams of fentanyl powder. Investigators obtained a warrant for Shade’s residence in Tea and found 80 grams of methamphetamine, 22 fentanyl pills, scales, and various other narcotics.
The investigation ultimately revealed that Shade was responsible for organizing shipments of methamphetamine and cash between Sioux Falls and Arizona. He also had multiple sub-distributors to whom he provided methamphetamine for redistribution. In total, investigators believe that Shade and his group were responsible for trafficking approximately 200 pounds of methamphetamine to the Sioux Falls area from Arizona.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Shade was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Madison, South Dakota, Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Madison, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on May 4, 2026.
Chase May, 35, 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.
May was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in October 2024. He pleaded guilty on February 11, 2026.
May was the target of an investigation into cocaine sales in Madison, South Dakota. Utilizing a confidential informant, investigators conducted two controlled purchases of cocaine from May during the Summer of 2024. When investigators learned that May had traveled to Omaha, which they believed was for the purpose of obtaining more narcotics, they arranged for the South Dakota Highway Patrol to conduct a traffic stop of May. After stopping May, troopers searched his vehicle and found 18 ounces of cocaine, seven pounds of marijuana, a pistol, and cash. Investigators then obtained a search warrant for May’s home and found an additional three ounces of cocaine and additional firearms. Throughout his involvement in the conspiracy, investigators believe May was responsible for trafficking approximately one kilogram of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
May was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Iron PursuitRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice announced today the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement effort to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. All 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys' offices around the country participated in the coordinated takedown effort.
The operation commenced April 1 and ended April 30. The Administration for Children and Families recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.“This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.”
“Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Last year we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work — with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.”
“Working closely with our partners at the FBI, our office has brought charges against four South Dakota individuals in connection with this nationwide operation,” said United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota Ron Parsons. “We have no higher priority than keeping your children safe.”
"The FBI is committed to protecting children in South Dakota and across the country," said FBI Minneapolis Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. "The arrests made during Operation Iron Pursuit are a significant step in bringing justice to child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. With our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office, we've taken some of the most dangerous child predators off the streets of our communities. They now face justice in Federal court. We continue to work each and every day to protect the innocent and support child victims through their healing process."
Victims recovered include a 10-year-old from Utah who was flown from Cuba to home and the child’s biological mother. The child was supposed to be on a camping trip with a transgender parent, partner, and another child. The group instead flew from Canada to Mexico and then to Cuba; concerns existed that the 10-year-old child was taken to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery. FBI Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted with the recovery of the children, providing crisis support and stabilization.
Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and possessing, distributing, or receiving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Some of the alleged offenders include:
- A Columbus, Ohio, man who pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated obscene material of adults and children and to cyberstalking exes;
- A District of Columbia man charged with producing child pornography;
- A New York man charged with sexually exploiting a child; and
- A Pennsylvania man and former felon charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegally possessing a gun.
This effort follows three other successful operations last year. Operation Relentless Justice, concluded in December 2025, resulted in the rescue of 205 children and arrests of 293 offenders. Operation Enduring Justice, concluded in August 2025, resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. And Operation Restore Justice, concluded in May 2025, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders.
The FBI’s VSD assisted victims during Operation Iron Pursuit and provided services such as forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.
The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 4, 2026.
Omot Musa Karlo, 25, was sentenced to one year and nine 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.
Karlo was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026.
According to court documents, on August 6, 2024, Karlo was a passenger in a vehicle that fled from law enforcement in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The pursuit ended when a tire on the vehicle went flat, causing the vehicle to travel into a ditch near South Southeastern Avenue. As the vehicle was going into the ditch, Karlo exited the passenger door and fled on foot. While fleeing on foot and before being apprehended, Karlo discarded a firearm in the tall grass along the path from which he left the vehicle.
Karlo was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of prior felony convictions, including offenses involving firearms. He was on federal supervised release for a prior conviction at the time of this offense.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Karlo was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal Prison for AssaultRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on April 21, 2026.
Jacob Wright, 31, was sentenced to three years and five 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.
Wright was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in December 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 26, 2026.
On April 23, 2025, Wright and the victim were consuming alcohol at a residence south of Okreek, South Dakota. The two argued while outside the residence but eventually separated, with Wright going into the residence. The victim entered the residence later. As the victim crossed the threshold, Wright struck the victim on the left side of the head and in the chest with a metal bar. The blow to the head caused a skull fracture and subdural hematoma. The head trauma required surgical intervention, specifically, removal of a portion of the right side of the skull to reduce the pressure created on the left side of the brain.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby VanDenBerg prosecuted the case.
Wright was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on April 21, 2026.
Duane Rouillard, III, age 37, was sentenced to time served through April 22, 2026, equal to approximately three years and one month in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rouillard was indicted by a federal grand jury in Feburary 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 19, 2026.
In December 2022, Rouillard was in custody at the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Adult Correctional Facility, in Todd County, South Dakota. On the evening of December 29, 2022, Rouillard assaulted a corrections officer by punching him multiples times in the head and face with a closed fist.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Rouillard was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rosebud Man Sentenced to over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Domestic Assault by an Habitual OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender. The sentencing took place on April 20, 2026.
Marlon Oliver, Jr., age 41, was sentenced to a total of two years and ten months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Oliver was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026.
The convictions stem from two separate incidents that occurred in Todd County in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On October 11, 2024, Oliver was at the residence of his domestic partner, argued with her, and then assaulted her by shoving her. On December 1, 2024, Oliver was again at the residence of his domestic partner when she told him to leave. Oliver refused to leave and then threatened her with a knife. At the time of both incidents, Oliver had two prior convictions in Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court for domestic assault.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to state court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Oliver was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Three Individuals Sentenced for Separate Federal Gun Crimes in Rapid CityRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced three individuals for separate gun crimes. The individuals were sentenced on April 20, 2026.
Oscar Ortiz-Romero, 34, a Mexican national, was convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person and sentenced to time served after having been held for over a year. Ortiz-Romero was pulled over by the Box Elder Police Department on March 15, 2025, for speeding. He was driving while intoxicated. Ortiz-Romero is in the United States unlawfully and is expected to be deported. In the vehicle, Ortiz-Romero had a loaded pistol and, in his pocket, had ammunition. It is unlawful for an illegal alien to possess a firearm or ammunition. Ortiz-Romero was immediately turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities.
Avalon Gayton, 23, of Rapid City, was convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and 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. On September 5, 2025, Rapid City police officers initiated a traffic stop on Gayton’s vehicle. Gayton had a pistol in her possession. She had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by over a year in prison. It is a federal felony to possess a firearm or ammunition after such a conviction.
Ashton Shaw, 20, of Rapid City, was convicted of Receipt of a Firearm While Under Indictment and 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. On June 12, 2025, Rapid City police officers responded to a report of shots fired from a vehicle. Law enforcement found the vehicle and determined Shaw had been inside it moments earlier. Officers found a stolen pistol with an extended magazine inside the car. Shaw received and possessed this pistol after being indicted with a felony in South Dakota State Circuit Court. It is a federal felony to receive a firearm while charged for such a crime.
“These cases reflect this Administration’s ongoing commitment to reducing gun violence and keeping our communities as safe as they can possibly be,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “It is illegal under federal law for a convicted felon to possess a gun or ammunition, for an illegal alien to possess a gun or ammunition, and for someone under indictment for a felony to acquire a gun or ammunition. If you are aware of a felon in possession of a gun, or any other violation of federal gun laws, please report it to law enforcement right away. You can do so without giving your name and you may well be saving someone’s life.”
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
The first case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, and the Box Elder Police Department. The second and third cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted these cases.
All three individuals were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
St. Francis Man Sentenced for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on April 20, 2026.
Julian Arcoren, age 37, was sentenced to time served through April 20, 2026, equal to approximately 15 months in custody, followed by three of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Arcoren was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026.
On January 3, 2024, in St. Francis, Arcoren distributed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. This case was investigated by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Arcoren was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to over 9 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 21, 2026.
Alexander Juan Cotton, age 28, was sentenced to nine years and two months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Once released from federal prison, Cotton will have to register as a sex offender.
Cotton was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 27, 2026.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between May 2, 2024, and June 13, 2024, when Cotton possessed over 300 images and videos of child pornography including of victims as young as 1-2 years old. Cotton obtained these files over the internet and through various online platforms including Telegram and Mega.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb 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.
Cotton was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kyle Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing ChecksRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of Larceny. The sentencing took place on April 20, 2026.
Lyle Dean Misun Tibbits, 33, was sentenced to one year in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $9,880.00 in restitution.
Tibbits was indicted for Larceny by a federal grand jury in November 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 9, 2026.
In June 2025, Tibbits, while working on a ranch in Kyle, stole several blank checks belonging to his employer. Between June and July 2025, he unlawfully wrote several checks totaling nearly $10,000.00 to himself and another person and then cashed the checks and used the proceeds for his own personal gain.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Tibbits was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.