District of South Dakota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Jury Finds Winner Man Guilty of Sex Trafficking of Children and Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Richard Alan Kucera, age 67, of Winner, South Dakota, was found guilty of two counts of Sex Trafficking of a Child and two counts of Production of Child Pornography following a four-day federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on July 18, 2025.
Each count of Sex Trafficking of a Child carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Each count of Production of Child Pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Kucera and co-defendant Ivy Heron, age 37, also of Winner, South Dakota, were indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023.
At trial, the evidence established that between 2019 and 2021, Kucera and Heron entered into an agreement to recruit local girls to engage in sexual activity with Kucera in exchange for payment. Heron received a fee for each girl she recruited whom Kucera selected. Between 2020 and 2021, Heron recruited two sixteen-year-old girls, each of whom Kucera paid to engage in sexual activity. Kucera also created child pornography images and videos of both minor victims, which he uploaded to Facebook. The arrangement between Kucera and Heron was discovered in June 2022, when the minor victims were interviewed by law enforcement.
Heron pleaded guilty on April 9, 2025, to Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of a Child. She is in custody awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has not yet been set. Kucera was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Pierre Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine in Central South DakotaRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Pierre, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 14, 2025.
Scott Reiners, age 37, was sentenced to 12 years and four 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. Reiners was further ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
Reiners was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024 . He pleaded guilty on April 3, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from a drug conspiracy between September 2022 and April 2023 in which Reiners and several other individuals conspired to distribute methamphetamine in and around the central South Dakota area, including within the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservations. As part of the conspiracy, Reiners was involved in distributing between 5 kilograms and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine. Reiners was also involved in a traffic stop where law enforcement seized 254 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine and a handgun. Reiners is prohibited from possessing firearms due to three prior felony convictions.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Reiners was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Belle Fourche Man Sentenced to Nearly 13 Years in Federal Prison for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a man from Belle Fourche, South Dakota, for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on July 14, 2025.
Turner Heinbaugh, 35, was sentenced to 12 years and seven 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.
Heinbaugh was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He pleaded guilty on April 22, 2025.
The money that Heinbaugh laundered was generated from a methamphetamine operation in the Black Hills. Heinbaugh worked with others to collect drug proceeds and then sent the proceeds through electronic payments to other co-conspirators in the United States and Mexico. Altogether, investigators believe Heinbaugh was responsible for transferring approximately $98,000 in drug proceeds through financial institutions. He was also involved in selling methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.
This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a federal program established in 1982 to combat transnational organized crime and reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the nation by using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to drug enforcement. OCDETF leverages the resources and expertise of its partners in concentrated, coordinated, long-term investigations of transnational organized crime, money laundering, and major drug trafficking networks.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), and the Drug Enforcement Administration. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Hodges and Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.
Heinbaugh was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mexican National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry after DeportationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation. The sentencing took place on July 15, 2025.
Amador Cruz-Martinez, 31, was sentenced to time served. He will be deported once released from the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
Cruz-Martinez was indicted for Illegal Reentry after Deportation by a federal grand jury in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on May 21, 2025.
Cruz-Martinez is a non-citizen of the United States and a Mexican national. Cruz-Martinez was deported from the United States to Mexico in 2015. Cruz-Martinez was found back in the United States in March of 2025. Reentering the United States after deportation is a felony.
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).
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Mexican National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry after DeportationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation. The sentencing took place on July 14, 2025.
Javier Cruz-Martinez, 29, was sentenced to time served and ordered to be removed from the United States.
Cruz-Martinez was indicted for Illegal Reentry after Deportation by a federal grand jury in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 30, 2025.
Cruz-Martinez is a non-citizen of the United States and a Mexican national. Cruz-Martinez was deported from the United States to Mexico in 2017. Cruz-Martinez was found back in the United States in March 2025. Reentering the United States after deportation is a felony.
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).
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Cruz-Martinez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Martin Man Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Martin, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 14, 2025.
Aloysius Mousseau, 23, was sentenced to four years and eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Mousseau was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 22, 2025.
In November 2024, officers with the Rapid City Police Department found Mousseau with a pistol. Mousseau gave a false name and age to law enforcement. Mousseau had been convicted for crimes punishable beyond a year in prison. Possessing any firearm after such conviction is a felony 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 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Mousseau was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mankato Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mankato, Minnesota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on June 30, 2025.
Ethan Schnitker, 41, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Schnitker was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2023. He pleaded guilty on March 13, 2025.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on October 3, 2021, in Gregory County, South Dakota, on property located within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Schnitker had sexual contact with a minor victim without her permission while they were visiting the area. Schnitker was responsible for the minor’s care at the time.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Schnitker was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Little Eagle Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Killing Hunka Brother within the Standing Rock ReservationRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on July 15, 2025.
Evan John Bobtail Bear, age 35, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bobtail Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025.
On May 14, 2024, Bobtail Bear argued with his brother at a gathering outside a home in Little Eagle, South Dakota, which lies within the Standing Rock Reservation. Bobtail Bear punched his brother in the head. Bobtail Bear’s brother, unconscious, keeled over and struck his head on a concrete driveway. When Bobtail Bear saw his brother was seriously injured, he pleaded with him to wake up. He never did, succumbing to his injuries on June 8, 2024, in a hospital in Bismarck, North 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 FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Bobtail Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Black Hawk Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Black Hawk, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on July 11, 2025.
Matthew Charles Ratliff, 51, was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution to online victims. He was further ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Ratliff will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Ratliff was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in May 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 7, 2025.
The case was reported through a Cybertip, which informed law enforcement the defendant was downloading and viewing images of young children being sexually abused. Searches of Ratliff’s various devices revealed around 280 images of child sexual abuse material. At sentencing, Judge Schreier discussed how each time an image of a child being sexually abused is viewed, that child is re-victimized. Some of the children in the images have been identified, and Ratliff was ordered to pay restitution to each of them.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Ratliff was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Oglala Man Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Woman by Strangulation and for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced an Oglala, South Dakota, man convicted of Committing a Crime of Violence While Failing to Register and Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation. The sentencing took place on July 11, 2025.
Aric Singing Goose, a/k/a Eric Sharpfish, age 37, was sentenced to nine years and nine months in federal prison, followed by eight years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $200 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
A federal grand jury indicted Singing Goose in December 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 9, 2025.
Singing Goose is required to register as a sex offender based on convictions secured in federal court in South Dakota for two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in 2009. In July 2023, Singing Goose was living in Oglala, South Dakota, within the Pine Ridge Reservation, and knowingly failed to update mandatory registration as a sex offender with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Sex Offender Compliance Office.
Then, on the afternoon of October 31, 2023, Singing Goose was drinking with a 16-year-old female at Oglala. Following a bout of drinking, the two got into a verbal argument that turned physical. Singing Goose took the minor to a location near the Oglala Dam, threw her to the ground, got on top of her, and placed his hands around her throat. In doing so, he left his DNA on her neck. The victim’s circulation was cut off and she lost consciousness, but she later 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 U.S. Marshals Service and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Singing Goose was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Florida Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a North Lake Worth Beach, Florida, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 14, 2025.
Kenneth Lee DeMarrias, age 46, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. His interest in a firearm was also forfeited.
DeMarrias was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024. He pleaded guilty on April 23, 2025.
In May 1998, DeMarrias fired six shots from a pistol at three teenaged boys in a Kansas City park. Two died; the third required surgery for a perforated bowel. Following his convictions for murder, aggravated assault, and armed criminal action, DeMarrias was sentenced to 26 years in prison. He was released in May 2024. On July 26, 2024, DeMarrias was staying with his family at the Grand River Casino in rural Wakpala, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Reservation. DeMarrias loaded the magazine for his wife’s pistol in their hotel room. Later that morning, DeMarrias took the pistol to hotel lobby, where police arrested him. DeMarrias had been using methamphetamine.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
DeMarrias was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Two South Dakota Women Sentenced to Substantial Terms in Federal Prison for Their Roles in a Large-Scale Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Box Elder, South Dakota, woman, and a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman, both convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencings took place on July 11, 2025.
Veronica Ortega, 48, was sentenced to 24 years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Paige Sierra, 33, was sentenced to 11 years and 9 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.
Ortega and Sierra were indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024 for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Ortega pleaded guilty on April 28, 2025, and Sierra pleaded guilty on April 2, 2025.
Between January 2022 and February 2024, Ortega and Sierra were part of a conspiracy with several others to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota, including in the Rapid City area and in the Pine Ridge Reservation. Large quantities of methamphetamine were being transported from Denver, Colorado, to South Dakota, and Sierra assisted on occasion with the transportation of those drugs. Once in Rapid City, both Ortega and Sierra obtained distributable quantities of methamphetamine and then re-distributed that methamphetamine to others.
This case was investigated by the 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Ortega and Sierra were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lead Man Sentenced to 3½ Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Machinegun Conversion DevicesRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Lead, South Dakota, man convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Machinegun. The sentencing took place on July 11, 2025.
Ray Steele, 63, 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.
Steele was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Unlawful Possession of a Machinegun by a federal grand jury in May 2024. He pleaded guilty on April 21, 2025.
Between late 2020 and May 2024, Steele, a felon prohibited from possessing firearms, had another person purchase firearms for him and was then building various caliber rifles. At the same time, Steele was also illegally manufacturing machinegun conversion devices to convert semi-automatic rifles into fully automatic machineguns. Once manufactured and inserted into a rifle, Steele and others would shoot the fully automatic machineguns. During a search warrant of his residence, law enforcement located six machinegun conversion devices, including one Steele was preparing to ship to an individual in California. Law enforcement also seized numerous firearms belonging to Steele.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Lead Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Steele was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Chihuahua, Mexico, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Chihuahua, Mexico, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 11, 2025.
Ubaldo Balderrama-Marquez, 59, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Balderrama-Marquez was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in November 2006. He pleaded guilty on April 11, 2025.
The conviction arose from a conspiracy to distribute cocaine operating out of Denver, Colorado. Balderrama-Marquez, along with his brothers Jose Balderrama-Marquez, Miguel Balderrama-Marquez, and Rafael Balderrama-Marquez, sold large quantities of cocaine and marijuana to Ken Walking Eagle, John Ladeaux, and others for further distribution in South Dakota and in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force, which is comprised of agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
Balderrama-Marquez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Parmelee Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Parmelee, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on July 8, 2025.
Lonnie Running Bear, Jr., age 32, was sentenced to ten 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.
Running Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 7, 2025.
On the afternoon of November 21, 2024, Running Bear was arrested by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services following a disturbance at the community center in Parmelee. As Running Bear was being placed in a patrol vehicle, he kicked the arresting officer multiple times in the chest.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Running Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kenel Man Convicted by Federal Jury for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Jesse Norman White Bull, age 45, of Kenel, South Dakota, was found guilty on July 10, 2025, of two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor following a three-day federal jury trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
White Bull was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024.
At trial, the evidence established White Bull sexually abused a 13-year-old girl on multiple occasions between June 2023 and July 2023 at a residence in Kenel, a community within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation report was ordered and a sentencing date of September 29, 2025, was set. White Bull was released on bond pending sentencing.
Yankton Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Yankton, South Dakota, man convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on July 7, 2025.
Matthew Williams, age 33, was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison and four years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 2, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 17, 2022, when Williams intentionally distributed a pill containing fentanyl to one of his drug customers who ingested it and overdosed. Paramedics were called to the residence and administered a dose of Narcan, which saved the victim’s life.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
Williams was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Nearly 3 Years in Federal Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 7, 2025.
Adrian Fast Dog, age 45, was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison and five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Fast Dog was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024. He pleaded guilty on April 10, 2025.
The conviction stems from Fast Dog failing to register as a sex offender as required by federal law between June 25, 2024, and February 13, 2025. Fast Dog had previously been convicted of a sex offense in federal court, which requires him to register for the rest of his life.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Fast Dog was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced to Just Under 2 Years in Federal Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on June 30, 2025.
Patrick Red Legs, age 31, was sentenced to one year and 11 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 Legs was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 15, 2025.
Red Legs is required to register as a sex offender under federal law for sexually abusing a 13-year-old-girl. This is his third conviction for failure to register as a sex offender. Following his last release from prison on June 10, 2024, Red Legs registered a McLaughlin, South Dakota, address with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. On or about July 1, 2024, Red Legs moved to his girlfriend’s home in Little Eagle without updating his registration. Because her children also lived there, Red Legs was prohibited from visiting his girlfriend’s house, much less living there. Red Legs only updated his address following his arrest for violating his supervised release on August 12, 2024.
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 United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Red Legs was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lower Brule Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Assault on Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District 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 June 23, 2025.
Thaddeus James Grant, 32, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Grant was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 27, 2025.
On September 20, 2024, when two law enforcement officers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) attempted to arrest Grant pursuant to a federal warrant in the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation, he actively resisted arrest, pulling his hands away from the officers and taking one of the officers with him to the ground. Grant continued to resist until the officers were able to gain compliance through the use of pressure points.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Grant was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Lower Brule Man Sentenced to 6 Months in Federal Prison for Assaulting Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District 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 June 30, 2025.
Eddie Bromwich, age 45, was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bromwich was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. He was found guilty following a three-day jury trial in April 2025.
On February 6, 2024, Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of Bromwich for speeding in the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation. Bromwich argued with and resisted commands from the officers before ultimately engaging in a physical struggle with the officers. One of the officers suffered a broken finger as a result of the incident.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Zachrison and Troy Morley prosecuted the case.
Bromwich was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Federal Jury Finds Sioux Falls Man Guilty of Two Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Boru Guye Wako, Jr., age 39, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls. The verdict was returned on July 1, 2025.
The Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 2 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Wako was originally indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023.
The charges stemmed from an incident on March 8, 2023, when Sioux Falls Police Department detectives attempted to stop a vehicle that had been reported stolen. Rather than comply, the driver of the stolen vehicle eluded law enforcement. Soon thereafter, detectives re-located the vehicle, just as the driver fled the scene on foot. Detectives pursued the fleeing driver, but the individual managed to get away by stealing a second vehicle. Based on prior encounters, detectives were able to identify the fleeing driver as Boru Guye Wako, Jr., and he was later apprehended. Upon searching the first stolen vehicle from which Wako had fled, detectives discovered a Ruger LCP .380 handgun in the driver-side door, which had been reported stolen just days earlier. Forensic analysis later revealed the presence of Wako’s DNA on the barrel of the firearm, thereby establishing Wako had possessed the firearm. As a prior convicted felon, Wako is prohibited from possessing firearms. At the time Wako possessed the firearm, he was also under indictment for two other separate felonies, further prohibiting his possession of firearms.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen and U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has been set for September 22, 2025. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor. The sentencing took place on June 23, 2025.
William Danery Sebastian, age 34, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison with five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Sebastian must also register as a sex offender upon release from federal prison.
Sebastian was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 27, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from an undercover chat operation in March 2024, when Sebastian started a conversation with a person he thought was a 15-year-old female on Facebook. The conversation turned sexual in nature and Sebastian asked the 15-year-old to meet up to have a sexual encounter. Sebastian arrived at the meet location where he was arrested by law enforcement. Unbeknownst to Sebastian, he had actually been chatting with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old female.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Human Trafficking Task Force. 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.
Sebastian was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
District of South Dakota Seizes 230 Illegally Possessed Firearms in 2024Read the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that over the course of 2024, federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies seized 230 firearms that were possessed in violation of federal law. In the same year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota charged approximately 112 defendants with illegally owning, possessing, using, or obtaining one or more such firearms.
“By seizing firearms from individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms, law enforcement agencies prevented countless violent and drug-related crimes from occurring in communities across South Dakota,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is grateful for the strong law enforcement partnerships in South Dakota, which allow us to combine federal, state, and tribal resources to target some of the most dangerous individuals in our state and remove illegal firearms from our streets.”
Efforts to seize illegal firearms are the result of close cooperation between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), South Dakota State Highway Patrol, and numerous sheriff’s offices and police departments across the state, including Sioux Falls and Rapid City.
Examples of the types of firearms-related cases resolved by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2024 include the following:
- United States v. Bryan Louis Archambeau—In the evening of November 2, 2023, Archambeau went to the 49’er Marathon C-Store in Sioux Falls wearing a medical mask. He entered the store and took two cases of Twisted Tea and exited the store without paying for the items. When confronted about the theft, Archambeau lifted his shirt, brandished a pistol, and then left the scene. Then, in the evening of November 3, 2023, Archambeau went to the Freedom Valu Center in Sioux Falls. He placed two-12 packs of Twisted Tea on the counter and pulled out a pistol from his waistband. He pointed it at the clerk, racked the slide of the pistol, and demanded money. Archambeau then left the scene. Archambeau was later convicted of Interference with Commerce by Means of Robbery and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. He was sentenced to nearly 11 years in federal prison. The case was investigated by the ATF and the Sioux Falls Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb.
- United States v. Charles Colhoff—On November 4, 2023, Colhoff was involved in a shooting in Rapid City where he and another individual exchanged gunfire following an argument. Colhoff was uninjured but the other individual sustained two gunshot wounds and required surgery. Officers processing the scene located three 9mm cartridge casings related to the shooting. Colhoff was located by law enforcement on November 11, 2023, and found to be in possession of a Browning 9mm semi-automatic pistol believed to be the same pistol Colhoff used in the shooting. Ballistics testing was conducted, which confirmed the three 9mm casings recovered at the shooting scene were fired from the pistol recovered from Colhoff. Colhoff knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms based on a prior federal felony offense, which also involved a firearm. Colhoff was sentenced to nine years in federal prison. The case was investigated by the ATF, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson prosecuted the case.
- United States v. Jerel Running Bear—On the evening of November 8, 2023, Running Bear and two other individuals, including a 21-year-old female victim, went to Wounded Knee to obtain fentanyl pills from a drug source. When the source did not show up, Running Bear, who was under the influence of controlled substances, grabbed a rifle from the trunk of the vehicle and shot the female who was seated in the backseat. The other female took off running and alerted law enforcement. Running Bear then picked up Fast Horse, his girlfriend at the time. Running Bear removed the victim from the vehicle and left her on the side of the road, while Fast Horse watched. The next day, the two fled to Nebraska after being spotted by law enforcement. Fast Horse threw out items from the vehicle, including controlled substances. The two were eventually apprehended. After Running Bear was placed into custody, Fast Horse did not tell law enforcement about watching Running Bear dispose of the victim’s body on the side of the road. Running Bear was convicted of Second Degree Murder and Discharge of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence. He was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
- United States v. Justin James Schneider—On June 20, 2023, the Corson County Sheriff’s Office received credible information that Schneider had discharged a revolver earlier that day and was armed and dangerous. The Corson County Sheriff requested and received assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services to detain and arrest Schneider. A BIA officer found Schneider in Bullhead, South Dakota, in the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. When the officer attempted to arrest him, Schneider fled in his pickup to a nearby pasture and engaged in an armed stand-off with Corson County deputies and BIA police officers. Schneider eventually got back into his pickup and fled to the Bullhead Community Center, striking a police squad car en route. Schneider then exited his pickup, brandishing a revolver, gesturing wildly towards nearby civilians and disregarding repeated police commands to drop his gun. As Schneider moved quickly towards unarmed children, a police officer shot him to protect the public. Schneider was taken into custody without further incident. Schneider was convicted of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm and Simple Assault on a Federal Officer. He was sentenced to over 13 years in federal prison. This case was investigated by the FBI, the Corson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
- United States v. Antoine Ray Thomas, et al.—Thomas was part of a large methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution organization operating in South Dakota, which was obtaining drugs from Mexico. The conspiracy involved fifty pounds of methamphetamine, hundreds of pills containing fentanyl, and several firearms and ammunition. Thomas was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute over 500 grams of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. He was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. This case was investigated by the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Ebert-Webb and Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
The District of South Dakota’s prosecution of illegal firearms is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
- United States v. Bryan Louis Archambeau—In the evening of November 2, 2023, Archambeau went to the 49’er Marathon C-Store in Sioux Falls wearing a medical mask. He entered the store and took two cases of Twisted Tea and exited the store without paying for the items. When confronted about the theft, Archambeau lifted his shirt, brandished a pistol, and then left the scene. Then, in the evening of November 3, 2023, Archambeau went to the Freedom Valu Center in Sioux Falls. He placed two-12 packs of Twisted Tea on the counter and pulled out a pistol from his waistband. He pointed it at the clerk, racked the slide of the pistol, and demanded money. Archambeau then left the scene. Archambeau was later convicted of Interference with Commerce by Means of Robbery and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. He was sentenced to nearly 11 years in federal prison. The case was investigated by the ATF and the Sioux Falls Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb.
Rapid City Man Acquitted on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man was acquitted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person following a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, on June 25, 2025.
Randy Tail, a/k/a Randy Tayle, a/k/a Randy Sierra, age 44, was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025.
The charge relates to Tail being in the passenger seat of a car pulled over for a traffic stop in Rapid City, South Dakota. Law enforcement discovered a firearm inside of Tail’s backpack that was between his feet in the car during the traffic stop. Tail was previously convicted of a crime punishable beyond a year in prison, and as a result, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The investigation was conducted by Rapid City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case.
Fort Thompson Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Central South DakotaRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on June 23, 2025.
Weston Big Eagle, age 47, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, as well as a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Big Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 19, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from a drug conspiracy beginning in January 2023 and continuing until December 2023. Big Eagle was involved in a conspiracy with several other individuals to distribute methamphetamine in and around the central South Dakota area, including within the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservations. As part of the conspiracy, Big Eagle was involved in distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Big Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Former Rapid City Gymnastics Coach Indicted for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Rapid City, South Dakota, man for multiple charges involving Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.
A federal grand jury indicted Hayden Sengua, 25, on June 26, 2025. He was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann today and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The penalty upon conviction for each count of receiving child pornography is a mandatory minimum term of five years up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count of conviction. Restitution may also be ordered. Sengua faces up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine for possessing child pornography.
Between May 2018, and no later than January 2025, Sengua is alleged to have received and possessed more than 14,000 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse in two Google accounts and multiple electronic devices. Sengua’s collection depicted children as young as infants and toddlers being sexually abused, tortured, and engaging in sex acts with animals. Sengua is alleged to have possessed computer-generated child pornography in addition to erotic visual depictions of minors.
Sengua worked at Just Jymnastics in Rapid City until May 2024, when his employment was terminated. He previously worked as a gymnastics coach in Oregon.
Sengua is alleged to have possessed images and videos of children in the Rapid City area whom he may have coached. To date, the investigation indicates these photos do not rise to the level of child pornographic images and are not the subject of criminal charges. If members of the community have any information about Sengua that may be relevant to the criminal investigation, however, they are urged to contact the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation at (605) 394-2298.
The charges are merely accusations and Sengua is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The investigation is being conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox is prosecuting the case.
Following a detention hearing on June 27, 2025, Sengua was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A trial date has been scheduled for September 2, 2025.
Box Elder Man, Previously Sentenced in State Court, Given an Additional 7 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Box Elder, South Dakota, man convicted of Distribution of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on June 23, 2025.
Branden Tyler Bernard, 34, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $12,500 in restitution, as well as a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Bernard will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
“This is yet another case in which a bad actor utilized Snapchat to target and sexually exploit a vulnerable young victim here in South Dakota,” said Alison J. Ramsdell. “When the initial state investigation uncovered hundreds of images and videos depicting additional child sex abuse material, local, state, and federal law enforcement partners collaborated to bring additional federal charges against this defendant. Branden Bernard will now be serving a combined 17-year sentence for his despicable acts.”
Bernard was indicted for Distribution of Child Pornography, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in November 2023. He pleaded guilty on March 21, 2025.
The federal case originated during the investigation of Bernard’s sexual victimization of a 13-year-old child in Meade County, South Dakota. Bernard had been soliciting the child for sex using Snapchat. When the child’s mother reported the child missing in 2023, law enforcement located the child on Bernard’s bed, in his home. Bernard was arrested for sexual offenses against that child. During the investigation, a forensic examiner with the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce examined multiple electronic devices belonging to Bernard. On Bernard’s devices, investigators located hundreds of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse and more than 2,000 messages Bernard sent to other persons discussing the trade and distribution of child sexual abuse depictions. The victims of Bernard’s criminal conduct ranged in age from infants to preteen minors. At least 25 victims were affirmatively identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Bernard pleaded guilty to Fourth Degree Rape of the 13-year-old child in Meade County Circuit Court. He was sentenced on November 17, 2023, to 14 years in state prison, with four years suspended. Bernard’s federal sentence was ordered to run consecutively to his sentence in state court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Bernard was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Wakpala Woman Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Killing Her Mother within the Standing Rock ReservationRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Wakpala, South Dakota, woman convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on June 23, 2025.
Malania Rose Fast Horse, age 25, was sentenced to 13 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.
Fast Horse was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025. She pleaded guilty on March 6, 2025.
Fast Horse quarreled with her mother in their Wakpala, South Dakota, home, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, on Christmas Eve 2024. Fast Horse lost her temper and stabbed her mother several times in the chest, arm, and hand. Fast Horse ambled to her grandmother’s home next door and told her grandmother and brother she had stabbed her mother. She then grabbed some cigarettes and left. Fast Horse’s brother ran next door, finding his mother lying in a pool of blood on the floor, alive but incoherent. Although EMS was promptly dispatched, Fast Horse’s mother later succumbed to her injuries.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Fast Horse was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Hosts 2nd Annual Summer Law CampRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS – Earlier this week, 36 high school students from across the state participated in an immersive Summer Law Camp hosted by the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of South Dakota. Over the course of three days, students learned about the federal justice system from the perspective of criminal and civil attorneys who practice in federal court, paralegals, victim witness advocates, forensic examiners, members of the federal judiciary, and federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
“The USAO’s Summer Law Camp introduces high school students to various career paths associated with the criminal justice system and the practice of law,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “It is our hope that by offering a window into the work we do each and every day to uphold the rule of law and keep our communities safe, we can inspire the next generation of leaders to consider careers as attorneys, law enforcement officers, and vital legal support professionals.”
Students traveled from across South Dakota to participate in the USAO’s Summer Law Camp. Cities and towns represented at the Camp included Sturgis, Pine Ridge, Wounded Knee, White River, Kennebec, Chamberlain, Pierre, Ft. Pierre, Timber Lake, Ipswich, Wetonka, Aberdeen, Sisseton, Castlewood, Watertown, Clear Lake, Brandt, Madison, Dell Rapids, Montrose, Armour, Tyndall, Vermillion, Dakota Dunes, Beresford, Tea, Brandon, and Sioux Falls.
In addition to meeting with members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, students heard from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, the Sioux Falls Police Department, and the Federal Public Defender’s Office. On the final day of Camp, students conducted a mock trial before U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.
This was the second Summer Law Camp organized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota. Information about future programming will be distributed to South Dakota school districts in Spring 2026. For more information, please reach out to [email protected].
Bullhead Woman Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon within the Standing Rock ReservationRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Bullhead, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on June 23, 2025.
Kaitlyn Shantell Left Hand, age 27, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Left Hand was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. She pleaded guilty on February 26, 2025.
On July 2, 2024, Left Hand saw two women brawling in Bullhead, South Dakota, which lies within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. Left Hand and a passerby decided to wade into the affray, intending to break it up. Their good intentions went awry. Left Hand, panicked, drew a small knife and stabbed one woman in the head and the abdomen and another woman in the back. The injured women needed stitches, but nothing further.
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.
Left Hand was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on June 18, 2025.
Luke Standing Bear, age 19, was sentenced to eight 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.
A federal grand jury indicted Standing Bear in July 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 21, 2025.
On July 6, 2024, Standing Bear was in his neighborhood, in the Eastridge community in Pine Ridge, where he tried to fight several other men. The victim, who was one of the men whom Standing Bear tried to fight, told Standing Bear to go home. Standing Bear went back to his house and armed himself with a knife. Standing Bear returned to the scene of the first argument and got into another argument with the victim. Standing Bear was disarmed by bystanders, but then retrieved a second knife from his home and returned again to the street where the victim was standing. Standing Bear approached the victim after being insulted and stabbed the victim one time in the ribs. The victim took one step and collapsed to the ground. The knife had pierced several internal organs and the victim’s aorta. The victim survived the flight to the hospital in Rapid City but died during surgery.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Standing Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Peever Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting His Spouse and Causing Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Peever, South Dakota, man for Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
On June 16, 2025, Terry Wayne Sterling Heminger, age 27, was sentenced to five years and ten months in federal prison with three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Heminger was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. He pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024. His conviction stemmed from an incident on December 23, 2022, when Heminger assaulted his spouse with a hammer. The victim sustained serious bodily injuries to her skull resulting in complete vision loss in one eye and 54% loss in the other. The victim also had to undergo the placement of several metal plates to treat the injuries.
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.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
Heminger was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Minnesota man for Production of Child Pornography. Jason Honetschlager, age 45, was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024.
On June 16, 2025, Honetschlager was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. He must register as a sex offender upon release.
The investigation discovered that throughout 2023, Honetschlager targeted teenagers in the Milbank, South Dakota, area for sexually explicit images and acts. He enticed minor children via Snapchat and bought them tobacco and marijuana products in exchange for the images and acts. His behavior came to law enforcement’s attention when a video surfaced of him forcing a young teenage girl to perform oral sex on him. The investigation discovered 8 minor victims.
“Honetschlager’s actions are almost unspeakable,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell, “but unfortunately, this type of conduct is becoming more commonplace on social media platforms. We are fortunate to have sophisticated and dedicated law enforcement agents and prosecutors working to hold these offenders responsible, but it is imperative we all join the fight against child exploitation. Talk frequently and openly with your children about their use of social media and be on the lookout for behavior indicative of exploitation, such as abruptly deleting social media accounts or frequently creating new accounts; turning off or hiding devices in the presence of a parent or other adult; clearing web browser histories; and unexplained money or gift cards.”
This case was investigated by the Milbank Police Department, the Division of Criminal Investigation, and 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.
Honetschlager was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Wakpala Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years in Federal Prison for Assault and Burglary of a Home within the Standing Rock ReservationRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of First Degree Burglary and two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on June 16, 2025.
Francis Lee Dubray, age 35, was sentenced to five years and ten months months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Dubray was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023. He was found guilty on October 24, 2024, following a three-day federal jury trial.
Shortly after nightfall on July 5, 2023, Dubray and two co-defendants went to a woman’s home in McLaughlin, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, to assault a man they believed had inappropriately touched a girl. As the woman yelled at them to go away, one of the co-defendants kicked in her front door. Dubray’s co-defendants rushed into the house while Dubray stood on the stoop, hollering and chastising the woman for allowing the man to stay in her house. Although the man they came to find was passed out, Dubray’s co-defendants repeatedly kicked him in the face and struck him with a bar while the woman pleaded for them to stop. The victim incurred a broken nose and shattered orbital and sinus bones in the assault. He still struggles with his vision and headaches today. As Dubray’s co-defendants left the home, one of them knocked the woman to the floor. As she crawled toward the front door, Dubray kicked her in the face, then fled with his companions.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Dubray was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls-Based Federal Prosecutor Awarded Attorney of the Year by the State Bar of South Dakota’s Women in Law CommitteeRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Diana Ryan, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Civil Division at the United States Attorney’s Office in South Dakota, has been awarded Attorney of the Year by the State Bar of South Dakota’s Women in Law Committee. Ms. Ryan was honored at the State Bar’s Annual Convention on Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Rapid City, SD.
The State Bar of South Dakota Women in Law Committee Attorney of the Year award seeks to annually recognize one South Dakota attorney who exemplifies leadership, mentorship, and professionalism while positively inspiring others.“Diana Ryan has played a critical role at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for more than 35 years, first as a criminal prosecutor handling violent crime in Indian country and then as a civil litigator representing the United States in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “She is a fierce advocate whose depth of knowledge and practical experience as it relates to federal litigation is truly unmatched in South Dakota. In addition to zealously representing the interests of the United States, Diana has mentored countless attorneys over the course of her career, selflessly giving of her time and energy to invest in the professional development and promote the success of those fortunate enough to call her a colleague. We are thrilled that the Women in Law Committee has honored Diana by naming her Attorney of the Year for 2025.”
Ms. Ryan joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1989 as a criminal prosecutor handling violent crime in the Rapid City area. She became Civil Division Chief in 2004 and has since supervised all affirmative and defensive litigation as well as the Financial Litigation Unit, which collects federal civil debts and enforces court orders for criminal restitution, fines, and penalties. Ms. Ryan has been lead counsel on more than 150 criminal cases, 750 civil cases, and 89 appeals. She has been widely recognized for both her work as an outstanding litigator and her tremendous mentorship and leadership.Man Charged for Stabbing Visitor at the Wounded Knee Memorial Site in the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 18-year-old Raymond Eagle Hawk, Jr., of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, with Assault with Intent to Commit Murder.
On June 12, 2025, Eagle Hawk was intoxicated and panhandling at the Wounded Knee cemetery parking lot. The victim, a 71-year-old man, and his wife had traveled to the Pine Ridge Reservation from their home in Texas to visit the Wounded Knee Memorial site, near Wounded Knee village, within the Pine Ridge Reservation.
At the memorial site, Eagle Hawk asked the victim for money. The victim gave Eagle Hawk a small sum of cash, but Eagle Hawk continued to demand money. When the victim did not give Eagle Hawk more money, Eagle Hawk stabbed him in the throat with a knife. The victim sustained a grievous injury to his neck and attempted to return to his vehicle. Eagle Hawk continued to advance on the victim, but then fled the cemetery. The victim was transported to the Pine Ridge hospital and later flown by air ambulance to Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, where he underwent emergency surgery to repair the wound to his neck.
Eagle Hawk appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on June 18, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the criminal complaint. Eagle Hawk was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing, scheduled for June 27, 2025.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years in custody in a federal prison.
The charge is merely an accusation and Eagle Hawk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney Heather Knox is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Ramsdell Recognizes Elder Abuse Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota, joins federal, state, tribal, and local advocates in recognizing June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month to increase awareness of the many forms of elder abuse and promote the resources available to those at risk.
“Millions of seniors are affected by elder abuse each year, which robs them of their finances, their security, and their dignity. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those that target our vulnerable friends, family and neighbors. It is crucial that the public also join the effort by checking on older adults and watching for signs of abuse or unusual financial transactions.” said U.S. Attorney Ramsdell.
Warning signs that your loved one may be experiencing elder fraud include:
- Unexplained charges or withdrawals from a bank account;
- Suspicious signatures on checks or other financial documents;
- Abrupt changes in a will or other financial document; and
- Unpaid bills despite having adequate financial resources.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the various tactics used in specific scams or frauds. Common examples may include:
- Calls from someone you don’t know telling you a loved one has been kidnapped or arrested;
- Requests for money from an online romantic partner you’ve never met or have just met; and
- Requests to buy and forward gift cards and information.
To learn more about the Department’s elder justice efforts, visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
Pine Ridge Man and Rapid City Woman Convicted of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man, and a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencings took place on May 29, 2025, and June 6, 2025, respectively.
Tyler Eagle Elk, 38, was sentenced to two years and nine 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.
Larissa Ross, 39, was sentenced to one year and eight months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Eagle Elk and Ross were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2024. Eagle Elk pleaded guilty on March 7, 2024. Ross pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025.
Ross and Eagle Elk worked together to distribute cocaine in the Rapid City area. Investigators became aware of the two when the postal inspector intercepted a package containing approximately a half pound of cocaine addressed to their home. In the course of the conspiracy, Ross and Eagle Elk were involved in the distribution of more than a kilogram of cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Division of Criminal Investigation. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Eagle Elk and Ross were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mitchell, South Dakota, Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Rapid City AreaRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Mitchell, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on May 30, 2025.
Cory Linderman, 43, was sentenced to 23 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Linderman was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in July 2023. He pleaded guilty on March 5, 2025.
Linderman was part of a group of people who worked together to traffic approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine throughout the Rapid City area from 2021-2023. Julian Fuentes was a leader of the group and coordinated shipments of methamphetamine by car from California to Rapid City. From there, the methamphetamine was distributed to sub-distributors of the group, including Linderman, Daniel Bradshaw, and Travis Orr. During his involvement in the conspiracy, Linderman was responsible for distributing approximately 40-50 pounds of methamphetamine.
Julian Fuentes, 37, was sentenced on April 25, 2024, to 20 years in federal prison; Daniel Bradshaw, 31, was sentenced on August 12, 2024, to 14 years in federal prison; Travis Orr, 36, was sentenced on December 6, 2024, to 19 years and seven months in federal prison; Alisa See, 40, was sentenced on January 6, 2025, to 22 years and six months in federal prison; and Reynaldo Garcia-Gonzalez, 43, was sentenced on March 7, 2025, to 22 years and six months in federal prison
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET). UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Linderman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Found Guilty of Possession of Ammunition by a Felon Following Federal Jury TrialRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Lamont Victor Garrett, age 52, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, of Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on June 11, 2025.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Garrett was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
On August 21, 2024, law enforcement searched a residence in Sioux Falls where Garrett was residing. In his bedroom, a black Sig Sauer magazine with 9mm ammunition and .22 caliber ammunition were found. Garrett is a felon and thus prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department Violent Crimes Unit and Homeland Security Investigations. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date will be set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Resisting and Impeding a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on June 9, 2025.
Verl Antonie Janis, age 44, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Janis was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024. He pleaded guilty on February 20, 2025.
On September 23, 2024, in McLaughlin, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, a Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer observed Janis intoxicated by alcohol in violation of a court order. Janis resisted the officer’s attempt to arrest him. As Janis and the officer scuffled, both fell to the ground. Janis’ hands were near the officer’s duty belt. Concerned Janis might disarm him, the officer punched Janis, fracturing a bone in his, the officer’s, hand. Janis was eventually handcuffed and taken into custody. Janis has two prior federal convictions for assaulting law enforcement officers.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Janis was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Little Eagle Man Sentenced to Nearly 3 Years in Federal Prison for Stabbing a Woman in the Standing Rock ReservationRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on June 9, 2025.
Grady Laine Uses Arrow, age 34, was sentenced to two years and 11 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.
Uses Arrow was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 13, 2025.
On August 2, 2024, at a residence in Little Eagle, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, Uses Arrow’s former girlfriend pushed his mother to the floor. Enraged, Uses Arrow stabbed his former girlfriend in the head with a knife. When she fled outdoors, Uses Arrow gave chase and stabbed her again as several onlookers attempted to disarm him. Uses Arrow only desisted when he saw a law enforcement officer approaching. The victim incurred two lacerations to her head requiring stitches in the assault.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Uses Arrow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to Just over Ten Years in Federal Prison for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on June 6, 2025.
Vincent Boesem, age 32, was sentenced to ten years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
A federal grand jury indicted Boesem in March 2023. He pleaded guilty on March 14, 2025.
Between July 3, 2022, and July 4, 2022, Boesem and his elderly uncle had been drinking together at the uncle’s home within the Pine Ridge Reservation. While intoxicated with alcohol and methamphetamine, Boesem became enraged and beat the victim about his head, face, and body. Although Boesem ultimately called 911 to get medical help, the victim succumbed to his injuries. Boesem acted in the heat of passion, that is, in an uncontrollable rage and with an extreme emotional disturbance.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Boesem was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on June 6, 2025.
James Thunder Hawk, age 42, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
A federal grand jury indicted Thunder Hawk in October 2022. He pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025.
Beginning in December 2020, and continuing through October 2022, Thunder Hawk and others joined in an agreement or understanding to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine in South Dakota. Some of the co-conspirators traveled to the Denver area, and other places, to acquire the drug. Thunder Hawk knew some of this methamphetamine he was selling would be further distributed.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET). UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Thunder Hawk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Box Elder Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Committing an Assault within the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Box Elder, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on June 2, 2025.
Samatha Wright, 27, was sentenced to one year 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.
Wright was indicted for Discharge of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon by a federal grand jury in June 2024. She pleaded guilty on March 21, 2025.
The charges stemmed from a domestic dispute between Wright and the victim, her then-husband, while they lived within the Pine Ridge Reservation. Wright shot the victim with a handgun, hitting him three times and causing serious bodily injury.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Wright was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Leading a Methamphetamine Conspiracy within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and Rapid City AreaRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Guillermo Calderon, a/k/a “Memo,” age 38, was sentenced on June 6, 2025, to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
“Methamphetamine is ravaging communities throughout South Dakota, leaving a trail of heartbreaking addiction in its path,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Calderon played a significant role in perpetuating this problem by trafficking methamphetamine into Rapid City and within the Pine Ridge Reservation. Thanks to our skilled federal and tribal law enforcement partners, Calderon will now spend serious time in federal prison.”
“Calderon led a dangerous operation that funneled large amounts of methamphetamine into Pine Ridge and Rapid City, bringing violence and addiction into vulnerable communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Today’s sentencing reaffirms that those who bring cartel-linked drugs into our communities will be brought to justice. The FBI will continue to work with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect our communities from the devastating impact of cartel-sourced narcotics.”
Calderon was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024, and pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025. The investigation showed that Calderon and others distributed significant amounts of methamphetamine in Pine Ridge and Rapid City. Calderon was the leader of the conspiracy, trafficking significant amounts of methamphetamine into the community from Mexican cartel operatives. Calderon utilized firearms and threats of violence throughout his drug distribution scheme. In January 2024, Iowa law enforcement arrested Calderon while he was driving approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine to South Dakota.
In sentencing Calderon, Judge Schreier denounced how Calderon’s actions severely damaged the South Dakota community, and found he was the most culpable and violent member of the drug conspiracy. Judge Schreier also noted the drugs Calderon distributed constituted 100% pure methamphetamine and came from a Mexican cartel.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Calderon was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.
North Dakota Man and Woman Sentenced to Lengthy Terms in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a North Park, North Dakota, man and a Bismarck, North Dakota, woman who were convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencings took place on June 2, 2025.
Richard Rasmusson, age 44 , was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Leslie Apple, age 40, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rasmusson and Apple were indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024. Rasmusson pleaded guilty on November 4, 2024. Apple pleaded guilty on November 18, 2024.
These convictions stemmed from drug distribution activity that occurred between January 2024 and April 2024. During that time period, Rasmusson and Apple took methamphetamine from North Dakota to distribute in the Mobridge, South Dakota, area. On April 5, 2024, Rasmusson and Apple were arrested in Mobridge while possessing 104 grams of pure methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the FBI Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Mobridge Police Department, and the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Both Rasmusson and Apple were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Aberdeen Man Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted David Fowler, age 49, of Aberdeen, South Dakota, of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on June 4, 2025.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in federal prison and/or a $1,000,000 fine, up to life on supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
David Fowler was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
In March and April 2024, investigators with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office conducted three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Fowler, in amounts ranging from 10-21 grams. Authorities then obtained a search warrant for Fowler’s home, where 56 grams of methamphetamine were located. Fowler’s supplier was also arrested en route to his residence with an additional 344 grams of methamphetamine. The investigation revealed the methamphetamine was being mailed from California to a local source in Aberdeen, where it was then sold to sub-distributors, including Fowler. In total, Fowler purchased five packages of methamphetamine, totaling 2.5 pounds.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, the Aberdeen Police Department, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing will take place on September 8, 2025. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
White River Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a White River man convicted of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on May 27, 2025.
Michael Bettelyoun, age 31, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bettelyoun was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024. He pleaded guilty on February 24, 2025.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on June 19, 2024, in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Bettelyoun was videotaped shooting a pistol in a rural area outside of Norris, South Dakota. Law enforcement was subsequently alerted to Bettelyoun’s conduct and collected the firearm and video as evidence.
Bettelyoun was previously convicted in U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance in 2019. He was on supervised release for this conviction at the time of the instant offense. As a result of the prior felony conviction, Bettelyoun is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Bettelyoun was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.