District of South Dakota

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact.  The sentencing took place on May 11, 2026.

Floyd Clown, Jr., age 41, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Clown was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025.  He pleaded guilty on February 6, 2026.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in Dupree, South Dakota, within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation.  On March 11, 2025, Clown invited the victim inside his residence and then forced her to have sexual contact with him after she refused his entreaties and told him to stop his advances.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

Clown was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Crooks, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.

Cary Ludens, 50, was sentenced to 13 years and 3 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Ludens was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025.  He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.

Ludens was involved in a drug trafficking organization that obtained methamphetamine from Arizona and distributed those drugs throughout South Dakota.  The group trafficked the drugs both through the U.S. Mail and via cross-country car trips.  Investigators became aware of the group and seized a methamphetamine-laden package that contained over four pounds of methamphetamine in December 2024. Investigators later seized two parcels sent from Sioux Falls to Arizona that contained a combined total of approximately $26,000.  Ludens’ role in the conspiracy was as a distributor who obtained methamphetamine from a co-conspirator in South Dakota and then distributed it to others. Investigators determined that Ludens was responsible for distributing approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.

This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Ludens was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann sentenced a Bryant, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.  The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.

Jerry Allan Kretzschmar, 44, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Kretzschmar was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025.  He pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025.

On February 5, 2025, investigators with the Hamlin County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at Kretzschmar’s residence in Bryant.  The search yielded numerous firearms and drug-related items. Investigators then obtained a second search warrant for a farm property south of Bryant, which Kretzschmar utilized for storage.  Several additional firearms were located during the search of that property.  A total of 12 firearms were seized between the two properties.  Kretzschmar is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous felony conviction.   

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).  Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 

This case was investigated by the Hamlin County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.

Kretzschmar was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.

Robert Kent, 31, was sentenced to seven years and six months in federal prison, followed by five of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Kent was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in July 2025.  He pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026.

Kent was part of a drug trafficking organization that was obtaining methamphetamine from Arizona and then distributing it in the Sioux Falls area.  Kent’s role in the group was to distribute the methamphetamine in town.  Investigators discovered Kent was responsible for dealing approximately one pound of methamphetamine during his involvement in the conspiracy.

This case was investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Kent was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.  The sentencing took place on May 19, 2026.

Deshawn Pourier, 24, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Pourier was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

Pourier was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in January 2025.  He pleaded guilty on February 11, 2026.

Pourier sought images of naked young girls on the internet and ultimately communicated with a particular young girl using an alias. He convinced the girl to send compromising pictures of herself and soon began demanding more such images.  When the young girl hesitated, Pourier threatened to share her previous images with others on social media.  Feeling threatened, the young girl complied with the extortion and continued to send more nude images.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.

Pourier was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Third Degree Burglary. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.

Jack Daniel Thomas, age 31, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and over $5,000 in restitution to several victims.

Thomas was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025.  He pleaded guilty on September 16, 2025.

During the early morning hours of April 2, 2025, Thomas broke into several cars and the CHS storage shed in McLaughlin, South Dakota, in the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. He stole over $1,000 worth of tools from the storage shed and an iPad from one of the vehicles.  He had committed several similar offenses in the past.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.

This case was investigated by the Corson County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.

Thomas was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.

ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.

Dale David Glick, 31, was sentenced to one year and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  This sentence runs consecutively to a nine-month sentence for a supervised release revocation.

Glick was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on September 29, 2025.

Glick was previously federally convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.  As a result, he is required to register as a sex offender.  Following his most recent release from federal prison on January 24, 2025, Glick registered his aunt’s address as his primary residence even though he was living with his girlfriend in McLaughlin, South Dakota.  Glick moved to Bismarck, North Dakota in mid-May. He only updated his registration on June 26, 2025, following his arrest for violating his federal supervised release.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.

Glick was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.

This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced an Omaha, Nebraska, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.  The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.

Patricia Lawson, 55, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Lawson was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in December 2024.  She pleaded guilty on February 23, 2026.

Lawson was part of a multi-state conspiracy that trafficked methamphetamine from Omaha to Sioux Falls.  Lawson was responsible for obtaining methamphetamine in Omaha and then distributing it to South Dakota based co-conspirators either by driving the methamphetamine to Sioux Falls herself or meeting with co-conspirators who drove to Omaha.  She also sent drug proceeds through multiple money wire transfers directly to people in Mexico at the direction of a co-conspirator.  During her involvement in the conspiracy, Lawson was involved in trafficking approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges handled the prosecution of the case.

Lawson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

Sioux Falls - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Fargo, North Dakota man convicted of Escape.  The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.

Traye Mjelde, 29, was sentenced to one year in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Mjelde was indicted for Escape by a federal grand jury in August 2025.  He pleaded guilty on March 16, 2026.

Mjelde was initially sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after being convicted of possessing a firearm after a felony conviction.  In April 2025, the Bureau of Prisons transferred him to a residential reentry center in Sioux Falls to finish the remaining term of his sentence.  Mjelde walked away from the facility without authorization about two weeks later.  Law enforcement found Mjelde approximately one month later and arrested him. 

This case was investigated by United States Marshals Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Mjelde was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on May 11, 2026.

Amanda Thompson, 36, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Thompson was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in December 2024.  She pleaded guilty on January 21, 2026.

Thompson worked with others to obtain methamphetamine in Omaha during multiple trips and then redistributed those drugs in Sioux Falls.  She also sent drug proceeds through multiple money wire transfers directly to people in Mexico at the direction of a co-conspirator.  During her involvement in the conspiracy, Thompson was involved in trafficking over four pounds of methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges handled the prosecution of the case.

Thompson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Kyle Beck, age 23, of Rapid City, South Dakota, was found guilty of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography, following a federal jury trial in Rapid City.  The verdict was returned on May 12, 2026.

The charges carry a mandatory minimum of 15 years of imprisonment and a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Beck was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024.   

The convictions stem from an incident that occurred in Rapid City in May 2023.  At trial, the evidence established that on May 28, 2023, Beck messaged a 15-year-old girl via Instagram and requested sexually explicit photographs of her.  Beck was subsequently interviewed and admitted to his conduct.

This case was investigated by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations.  Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.  Beck was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon.  The sentencing took place on May 11, 2026.

Latrelle LaRoche, age 20, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

LaRoche was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025.  He  pleaded guilty on February 12, 2026.

The conviction stems from a shooting that occurred on June 19, 2025, in the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation.  While inside the victim’s residence, LaRoche argued with the victim over money LaRoche owed him.  LaRoche fired a warning shot and then fired a second time, striking the victim in the abdomen.  The victim sustained serious bodily injury requiring medical treatment and surgery.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services-Lower Brule Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.

This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

LaRoche was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer.  The sentencing took place on May 12, 2026.

Isiah Harding, age 28, was sentenced to four years and eight months in federal prison, followed by three of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Hardin was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2025.  He pleaded guilty on February 4, 2026.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on June 7, 2025, in the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation.  A Bureau of Indian Affairs officer made contact with Hardin who was standing in the middle of the street, yelling loudly.  Hardin was agitated and began to physically struggle with the officer. Hardin kicked and hit the officer several times causing the officer to suffer serious bodily injury requiring surgery.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services-Lower Brule Agency.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.

Hardin was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person.  The sentencing took place on May 8, 2026.

Bradley Two Eagle, 27, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Two Eagle was indicted for Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in November 2025.  He pleaded guilty on January 28, 2026.

On October 17, 2025, the Rapid City Police Department responded to an emergency call reporting that gunshots had been fired.  Law enforcement spoke with Two Eagle, who gave a false identity and then fled from the officers.  As Two Eagle ran, he threw ammunition to the ground.  Law enforcement caught Two Eagle.  They recovered his discarded ammunition and also found a methamphetamine syringe on him. Two Eagle had previously been convicted of a felony offense.  Possessing ammunition or firearms after such a conviction is a federal felony.  It is also a federal felony to possess ammunition or firearms while actively engaged in the use of a controlled substance such as methamphetamine.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).  Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rapid City Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.

Two Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Emanual Semon, age 24, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, of Sexual Abuse Without Consent and Sexual Abuse of a Minor, following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota.  The verdict was returned on May 7, 2026.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of any term of years up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Semon was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024. 

The convictions stem from an incident that occurred at a residence in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in July 2024.  At trial, the evidence established that on the afternoon of July 3, 2024, Semon engaged in sexual activity with a juvenile female without her consent.  Semon stopped when an adult entered the room and interrupted him.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.  Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.  Semon was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Parmelee, South Dakota, man was acquitted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence following a federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota, on May 7, 2026.

Joey Kills Plenty, age 26, was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2025.

The charges related to an allegation that Kills Plenty assaulted a man with a firearm in August 2025, in Todd County in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because federal law mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

The investigation was conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case.

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has affirmed a federal prison sentence of more than thirty years issued by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann to an El Salvador man following his conviction by a federal jury in Aberdeen, South Dakota, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.   The sentencing took place at the federal courthouse in Aberdeen on September 15, 2025. The appeal was argued at the federal courthouse in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 19, 2026.  The Eighth Circuit issued its opinion and judgment affirming the sentence on May 7, 2026.

Edwin Giovanni Salinas, 47, an illegal alien from El Salvador who was living in Los Angeles, California, was sentenced to serve 365 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Salinas left California with a backpack he used to transport approximately three pounds of pure China and Mexican cartel-sourced fentanyl powder and nearly 50,000 fentanyl pills laced with horse tranquilizer.  One of the bags of fentanyl seized from Salinas was marked with the word “CHINA.” The pills were manufactured to look like prescription oxycodone pills.  In all, Salinas was seeking to distribute approximately sixteen pounds of fentanyl, presumably to communities across the Midwest.  The immediate destination for the drugs was believed to be a designated meeting spot at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.  The approximate street value of the drugs was estimated at $2,000,000.

Salinas was traveling with the illegal drugs in a speeding car with California plates at four in the morning near the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, with an individual he recruited to drive.  The vehicle was stopped and the contraband found and seized by a deputy with the Roberts County Sheriff’s Department and a police officer with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe.  Salinas was convicted on both felony counts following a five-day jury trial.

At sentencing, the district court made factual findings, credited on appeal, that Salinas “had enough fentanyl to kill 500,000 people” and that this was one of “the biggest drug bust[s] in the history of South Dakota.”  The appellate court also affirmed a sentencing enhancement imposed by the district court for threatening his co-defendant and placing her in fear when they were in U.S. Marshals custody and traveling to federal court.

“Case closed,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “The incredible vigilance and professionalism demonstrated by these on-duty law enforcement officers with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police and Roberts County Sheriff’s Office unquestionably saved lives.”

This case was investigated by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribal Police, the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Division of Drug Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy R. Jehangiri and Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.  Following sentencing, Salinas was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service before being transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
 

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45.  The Mexican drug cartels responsible for the fentanyl smuggled into the United States—primarily the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Cartel—operate global criminal enterprises and rely on a global supply chain, with most fentanyl and its chemical precursors originating from China. In 2025, DEA seized more than 47 million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder, equivalent to more than 369 million lethal doses of fentanyl.

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that in March 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Kenneth Godwin, a Nigerian man, for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Unauthorized Access to a Protected Computer in Furtherance of Fraud.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

Between May 2023 and March 2026, Godwin, while believed to be living in Nigeria, conspired with others to embezzle funds from the Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, in order to enrich themselves.

“No agency on earth is better at this than the FBI,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “They will track down those who steal from and commit fraud against the people of the United States wherever those offenders may be.”

“This international business e-mail compromise (BEC) scheme caused substantial financial damage to a business owned and operated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “This indictment is an example of how the FBI operates every day to dismantle and disrupt criminal enterprises in Indian County and across the United States that target businesses and citizens in communities. The message is clear; we will work with our partners to hold fraudsters accountable.”

The charges are merely accusations, and Godwin is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case. 

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Tea, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  The sentencing took place on May 4, 2026.

Matthew Shade, 48, was sentenced to 21 years and 6 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Shade was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025.  He pleaded guilty on February 10, 2026.

“This was another skillfully managed takedown of a serial drug dealer and his operation by the dedicated officers on the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, with a strong assist from the Criminal Investigations Unit of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.  “In all likelihood, the fentanyl and methamphetamine seized from this criminal’s operation would have killed some people who are alive right now in Sioux Falls.  This investigation, prosecution, and substantial federal prison sentence has given them another chance at life.  I will never stop being grateful for that.”

Shade was the local leader of a drug trafficking organization that obtained methamphetamine and fentanyl from Arizona and distributed those drugs throughout South Dakota.  The group trafficked the drugs both through the U.S. Mail and via cross-country car trips.  Investigators became aware of the group and seized a methamphetamine-laden package that contained over four pounds of methamphetamine in December 2024. Investigators later seized two parcels sent from Sioux Falls to Arizona that contained a combined total of approximately $26,000.  Eventually, investigators became aware that Shade’s Arizona-based source of supply was traveling by car to South Dakota and arranged to have the South Dakota Highway Patrol conduct a traffic stop.  A trooper thereafter stopped and searched the vehicle, wherein he found approximately 26 pounds of methamphetamine and over 2,000 fentanyl pills.  Investigators then discovered that Shade had traveled to Arizona and they thereafter intercepted a package bound for Sioux Falls that was found to contain 144 grams of fentanyl powder.  Investigators obtained a warrant for Shade’s residence in Tea and found 80 grams of methamphetamine, 22 fentanyl pills, scales, and various other narcotics.  

The investigation ultimately revealed that Shade was responsible for organizing shipments of methamphetamine and cash between Sioux Falls and Arizona.  He also had multiple sub-distributors to whom he provided methamphetamine for redistribution. In total, investigators believe that Shade and his group were responsible for trafficking approximately 200 pounds of methamphetamine to the Sioux Falls area from Arizona.

This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Shade was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Madison, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  The sentencing took place on May 4, 2026.

Chase May, 35, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

May was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in October 2024.  He pleaded guilty on February 11, 2026.

May was the target of an investigation into cocaine sales in Madison, South Dakota.  Utilizing a confidential informant, investigators conducted two controlled purchases of cocaine from May during the Summer of 2024.  When investigators learned that May had traveled to Omaha, which they believed was for the purpose of obtaining more narcotics, they arranged for the South Dakota Highway Patrol to conduct a traffic stop of May. After stopping May, troopers searched his vehicle and found 18 ounces of cocaine, seven pounds of marijuana, a pistol, and cash. Investigators then obtained a search warrant for May’s home and found an additional three ounces of cocaine and additional firearms.  Throughout his involvement in the conspiracy, investigators believe May was responsible for trafficking approximately one kilogram of cocaine.

This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

May was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice announced today the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement effort to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. All 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys' offices around the country participated in the coordinated takedown effort.

The operation commenced April 1 and ended April 30. The Administration for Children and Families recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.”

“Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Last year we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work — with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.”

“Working closely with our partners at the FBI, our office has brought charges against four South Dakota individuals in connection with this nationwide operation,” said United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota Ron Parsons. “We have no higher priority than keeping your children safe.”

"The FBI is committed to protecting children in South Dakota and across the country," said FBI Minneapolis Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. "The arrests made during Operation Iron Pursuit are a significant step in bringing justice to child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. With our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office, we've taken some of the most dangerous child predators off the streets of our communities. They now face justice in Federal court. We continue to work each and every day to protect the innocent and support child victims through their healing process."

Victims recovered include a 10-year-old from Utah who was flown from Cuba to home and the child’s biological mother. The child was supposed to be on a camping trip with a transgender parent, partner, and another child. The group instead flew from Canada to Mexico and then to Cuba; concerns existed that the 10-year-old child was taken to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery. FBI Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted with the recovery of the children, providing crisis support and stabilization.

Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and possessing, distributing, or receiving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Some of the alleged offenders include:

• A Columbus, Ohio, man who pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated obscene material of adults and children and to cyberstalking exes;
• A District of Columbia man charged with producing child pornography;
• A New York man charged with sexually exploiting a child; and
• A Pennsylvania man and former felon charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegally possessing a gun.

This effort follows three other successful operations last year. Operation Relentless Justice, concluded in December 2025, resulted in the rescue of 205 children and arrests of 293 offenders. Operation Enduring Justice, concluded in August 2025, resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. And Operation Restore Justice, concluded in May 2025, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders.

The FBI’s VSD assisted victims during Operation Iron Pursuit and provided services such as forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience.

The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 4, 2026.

Omot Musa Karlo, 25, was sentenced to one year and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Karlo was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026.

According to court documents, on August 6, 2024, Karlo was a passenger in a vehicle that fled from law enforcement in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The pursuit ended when a tire on the vehicle went flat, causing the vehicle to travel into a ditch near South Southeastern Avenue. As the vehicle was going into the ditch, Karlo exited the passenger door and fled on foot. While fleeing on foot and before being apprehended, Karlo discarded a firearm in the tall grass along the path from which he left the vehicle.

Karlo was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of prior felony convictions, including offenses involving firearms. He was on federal supervised release for a prior conviction at the time of this offense.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.

Karlo was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.  The sentencing took place on April 21, 2026.

Jacob Wright, 31, was sentenced to three years and five months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Wright was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in December 2025.  He pleaded guilty on January 26, 2026.

On April 23, 2025, Wright and the victim were consuming alcohol at a residence south of Okreek, South Dakota.  The two argued while outside the residence but eventually separated, with Wright going into the residence.  The victim entered the residence later.  As the victim crossed the threshold, Wright struck the victim on the left side of the head and in the chest with a metal bar.  The blow to the head caused a skull fracture and subdural hematoma.  The head trauma required surgical intervention, specifically, removal of a portion of the right side of the skull to reduce the pressure created on the left side of the brain.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby VanDenBerg prosecuted the case.

Wright was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.  The sentencing took place on April 21, 2026.

Duane Rouillard, III, age 37, was sentenced to time served through April 22, 2026, equal to approximately three years and one month in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Rouillard was indicted by a federal grand jury in Feburary 2023.  He pleaded guilty on February 19, 2026.

In December 2022, Rouillard was in custody at the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Adult Correctional Facility, in Todd County, South Dakota.  On the evening of December 29, 2022, Rouillard assaulted a corrections officer by punching him multiples times in the head and face with a closed fist.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

Rouillard was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender.  The sentencing took place on April 20, 2026.

Marlon Oliver, Jr., age 41, was sentenced to a total of two years and ten months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Oliver was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025.  He pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026.

The convictions stem from two separate incidents that occurred in Todd County in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation.  On October 11, 2024, Oliver was at the residence of his domestic partner, argued with her, and then assaulted her by shoving her.  On December 1, 2024, Oliver was again at the residence of his domestic partner when she told him to leave.  Oliver refused to leave and then threatened her with a knife.  At the time of both incidents, Oliver had two prior convictions in Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court for domestic assault.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to state court.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

Oliver was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced three individuals for separate gun crimes.  The individuals were sentenced on April 20, 2026.

Oscar Ortiz-Romero, 34, a Mexican national, was convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person and sentenced to time served after having been held for over a year.  Ortiz-Romero was pulled over by the Box Elder Police Department on March 15, 2025, for speeding.  He was driving while intoxicated.  Ortiz-Romero is in the United States unlawfully and is expected to be deported.  In the vehicle, Ortiz-Romero had a loaded pistol and, in his pocket, had ammunition. It is unlawful for an illegal alien to possess a firearm or ammunition. Ortiz-Romero was immediately turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities.

Avalon Gayton, 23, of Rapid City, was convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  On September 5, 2025, Rapid City police officers initiated a traffic stop on Gayton’s vehicle. Gayton had a pistol in her possession. She had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by over a year in prison.  It is a federal felony to possess a firearm or ammunition after such a conviction.

Ashton Shaw, 20, of Rapid City, was convicted of Receipt of a Firearm While Under Indictment and sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. On June 12, 2025, Rapid City police officers responded to a report of shots fired from a vehicle.  Law enforcement found the vehicle and determined Shaw had been inside it moments earlier. Officers found a stolen pistol with an extended magazine inside the car.  Shaw received and possessed this pistol after being indicted with a felony in South Dakota State Circuit Court.  It is a federal felony to receive a firearm while charged for such a crime.

“These cases reflect this Administration’s ongoing commitment to reducing gun violence and keeping our communities as safe as they can possibly be,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.  “It is illegal under federal law for a convicted felon to possess a gun or ammunition, for an illegal alien to possess a gun or ammunition, and for someone under indictment for a felony to acquire a gun or ammunition.  If you are aware of a felon in possession of a gun, or any other violation of federal gun laws, please report it to law enforcement right away. You can do so without giving your name and you may well be saving someone’s life.”

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.  Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 

The first case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, and the Box Elder Police Department.  The second and third cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted these cases.

All three individuals were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance.  The sentencing took place on April 20, 2026.

Julian Arcoren, age 37, was sentenced to time served through April 20, 2026, equal to approximately 15 months in custody, followed by three of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Arcoren was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024.  He pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026.

On January 3, 2024, in St. Francis, Arcoren distributed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.  This case was investigated by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

Arcoren was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography.  The sentencing took place on April 21, 2026.

Alexander Juan Cotton, age 28, was sentenced to nine years and two months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.  Once released from federal prison, Cotton will have to register as a sex offender.

Cotton was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025.  He pleaded guilty on January 27, 2026.

The conviction stemmed from incidents between May 2, 2024, and June 13, 2024, when Cotton possessed over 300 images and videos of child pornography including of victims as young as 1-2 years old. Cotton obtained these files over the internet and through various online platforms including Telegram and Mega.  

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

Cotton was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of Larceny.  The sentencing took place on April 20, 2026.

Lyle Dean Misun Tibbits, 33, was sentenced to one year in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  He was further ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $9,880.00 in restitution.

Tibbits was indicted for Larceny by a federal grand jury in November 2025.  He pleaded guilty on January 9, 2026.

In June 2025, Tibbits, while working on a ranch in Kyle, stole several blank checks belonging to his employer.  Between June and July 2025, he unlawfully wrote several checks totaling nearly $10,000.00 to himself and another person and then cashed the checks and used the proceeds for his own personal gain.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.  Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.

Tibbits was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Eagle Butte, South Dakota, convicted of Threatening a Federal Official.  The sentencing took place on April 20, 2026.

Joseph Lafferty, age 68, was sentenced to four years of probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Lafferty was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025.  He was convicted following a jury trial in federal district court in January 2026.

The evidence presented at trial established that on July 21, 2025, Lafferty threatened to get his gun and kill a federal official employed by Indian Health Service, an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The Defendant made the threat in Eagle Butte, in the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case. 

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief U.S. District Court Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.  The sentencing took place on April 20, 2026.

Milton Galicia-Vasquez was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Galicia-Vasquez was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in March 2024.  He pleaded guilty on February 2, 2026.

Investigators learned that Galicia-Vasquez was involved with a drug trafficking organization that obtained methamphetamine in Omaha and then distributed it in Sioux Falls. During his involvement in the conspiracy, Galicia-Vasquez received money from a co-conspirator and then sent it through wire transfers to people in Mexico.  Galicia-Vasquez did this to conceal the drug-related nature of the money and the true ownership of the funds.  Investigators concluded that Galicia-Vasquez was responsible for sending approximately $13,000 in drug proceeds to individuals in Mexico on behalf of the conspiracy.  Investigators also determined that Galicia-Vasquez was involved in the distribution of approximately three pounds of methamphetamine while working with the drug trafficking organization.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Galicia-Vasquez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court has sentenced a Chicago, Illinois man convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute.  The sentencing took place on April 20, 2026.

Antonio Baker, 32, was sentenced to 10 years and five months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, fine, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Baker was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute by a federal grand jury in November 2024.  He pleaded guilty on January 20, 2026.

On July 9, 2024, members of the Sioux Falls Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Baker.  They eventually utilized a K9 dog, which indicated the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.  Officers searched the car and found approximately 895 grams of methamphetamine, 233 grams of cocaine, and 258 grams of crack cocaine.  Baker was arrested and taken into custody.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Baker was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal jury has convicted Gary Pourier, age 59, of Porcupine, South Dakota, of five charges of Abusive Sexual Contact, following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota.  The verdict was returned on April 16, 2026.

The charges carry a sentence of up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, and a $500 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Pourier was indicted in August 2024.

In July of 2024, Pourier was at the Common Cents Convenience Store near Porcupine when he made contact with the 10-year-old female victim.  Pourier sexually fondled the young girl inside the store.  After the victim left the store, she reported to a guardian what had happened.  Law Enforcement with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety responded to the scene as well as the child’s home.  Based on the child’s age, the Federal Bureau of Investigation also responded. The investigation revealed that Pourier made contact with the child, fondled her breasts, and pulled her into his body and would not let the child immediately leave.

The investigating agent with the FBI discovered that this was not the first time Pourier had been accused of sexually touching a child.  In 2005, Pourier engaged in sexual contact with two young female children while their mothers attended a cultural ceremony.  Both children reported the contact several months later and an investigation was initiated by the FBI in 2006.  In 2006, Pourier admitted to becoming aroused while playing with the children.  Pourier, however, was never charged.

In the fall of 2024, the FBI learned of another victim.  Pourier sexually touched a teenaged girl inside a truck in the summer of 2023, following a sundance ceremony.  In total, Pourier was indicted for sexually touching four victims.   

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case. 

A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for August 3, 2026.  The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

If you or anyone you know has information about additional crimes Pourier might have committed, please contact FBI Special Agent Brian Healy at 605-343-9632.

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Shane Bruguier, age 47, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, of one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Pierre, South Dakota.  The verdict was returned on April 16, 2026.

The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years and up to life in custody, 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.

Bruguier was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025.

The evidence presented at trial established that between January 13, 2015, and November 29, 2015, the 8-year-old victim awoke to Bruguier rubbing her vagina after he had pulled down her underwear. The offense occurred in Eagle Butte, SD, within the Cheyenne River 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 Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered.  Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.  Bruguier was placed in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing.

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  The sentencing took place on April 13, 2026.

Alysia Peneaux, 32, 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.

Peneaux was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in May 2025.  She pleaded guilty on January 14, 2026.

For several months in 2024, Peneaux served as a sub-distributor for a California- and Nevada-based drug trafficking organization which transported large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota and distributed it in the Sioux Falls area.  Peneaux purchased methamphetamine from the organization, which she then re-sold to others in the Sioux Falls area.  Peneaux admitted to personally distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.  Peneaux also participated in the operation by allowing members of the drug trafficking organization to store bulk quantities of drugs at her residence, commonly referred to as a “stash house.”

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.  The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.  Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

HSTF Minneapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, USMS, USPIS, SD DCI, SFPD, MCSO, and SDHP with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, the Sioux Falls Police Department, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.

Peneaux was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  The sentencing took place on April 13, 2026.

Elizeo Kalimba, 33, was sentenced to 19 years and seven 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.

Kalimba was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2024.  He was convicted following a jury trial in federal court in October 2025.

Kalimba worked with another individual to obtain thousands of fentanyl pills from Arizona that he then distributed in Sioux Falls.  Members of the Sioux Falls Police Department used a confidential informant to conduct two controlled purchases of fentanyl pills from Kalimba and then executed a search warrant at his home that led to the discovery of approximately 3900 pills in his home. Investigators believe Kalimba was responsible for trafficking over 13,000 fentanyl pills in and around the city.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, South Dakota DCI, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Kalimba was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Courtney Richmond, age 49, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person following a 4-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls.  The verdict was returned on April 10, 2026.

The charges for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance each carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, a $10 million dollar fine, at least five years and up to life on supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  The charge for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person carries a sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Richmond was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024. 

Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations started investigating Richmond late in 2022 and the DEA started looking into him in the Fall of 2023. Investigators discovered that Richmond was sourcing methamphetamine to at least one other person who was then reselling it to others.  They observed text and Facebook messages between the two that confirmed their drug related dealings.  Eventually, investigators obtained warrants for Richmond’s person, residences, and vehicles.  On December 14, 2023, investigators stopped Richmond in a vehicle that had his company’s BBQ food truck logo on the side.  They searched the vehicle and found approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded pistol.  They then searched his home and found an additional 216 grams of methamphetamine and another loaded firearm.  Richmond is not allowed to possess firearms due to four prior felony convictions from the state of Minnesota.  The investigation into Richmond and his associates resulted in the seizure of approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brookings Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date will be set for a later date.  The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Los Angeles, California, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.  The sentencing took place on April 6, 2026.

Dejuan Croom, 43, was sentenced to 23 years and 3 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Croom was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in October 2024.  He pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026.

From late 2023 to September 2024, Croom was a member of a California and Nevada-based drug trafficking organization which transported large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota, ultimately distributing the drugs in the Sioux Falls area.  The organization shipped packages of drugs through the U.S. mail and utilized rental vehicles to drive the drugs – typically stored in hidden compartments – to South Dakota.  The organization started out using local hotels as bases for their distribution operations and later shifted to short-term rental properties.  Croom served in a managerial role for the organization, under the direction of the group’s leader, Quantiae Harris.  Croom drove drug-laden rental vehicles from California to Sioux Falls, assisted in selling the drugs to the group’s local sub-distributors, and deposited large quantities of the drug proceeds in Harris’ bank accounts at his behest.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.  The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.  Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.  In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children.  The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF Minneapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, USMS, USPIS, SD DCI, SFPD, MCSO, and SDHP with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.

This case was investigated by the DEA, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, the Sioux Falls Police Department, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.

Croom was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Vermillion, South Dakota, who was convicted of Attempting to Produce Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography, and two counts of Receipt and Transportation of Child Pornography following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls this past January.  The sentencing took place on April 13, 2026.

Nicholas Keitges, age 34, was sentenced to 20 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $16,000, as well as a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $400.  Upon release from federal prison, Keitges must register as a sex offender.

Keitges was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023.

A thorough investigation by the Sioux Falls Police Department, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations, identified Keitges as an online predator.  The investigation discovered that Keitges had started collecting and trafficking in child pornography online, then progressed to playing out his pedophilic fantasies with others online before he was able to befriend and groom a young girl from the Sioux Falls area.

In the Spring of 2022, Keitges used the online platforms Omegle and Snapchat to befriend the 14-year-old girl.  He then sexually groomed her and attempted to coerce her into sending him sexually explicit images of her genitalia.  When Keitges arrived at her home to meet up for sexual relations, the minor got scared and law enforcement was called. The following year, law enforcement received a CyberTip that discovered Keitges had been using online platforms such as Dropbox and Google to transport files containing child pornography.

The investigation culminated in a jury trial in which Keitges was convicted of one count of attempting to produce child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and two counts of transportation of child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department, South Dakota DCI, South Dakota ICAC Task Force, 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.

Keitges was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter.  The sentencing took place on April 13, 2026.

Eric Anduja, 53, was sentenced to 15 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.

Anduja was charged by a Superseding Information with Voluntary Manslaughter.  He pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026.

In May 2025, Anduja became intoxicated and got into a disagreement with Alban “Boots” Vitales. During the argument, Anduja ultimately stabbed Vitales in the neck with a kitchen knife.  Vitales ran from the residence where the argument had taken place, sought help, and passed away on the front door step of a neighbor’s home.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.

Anduja was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Mitchell, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.  The sentencing took place on April 13, 2026.

Dakota Moore, 24, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Moore was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in October 2025.  He pleaded guilty on January 2, 2026.

On August 5, 2025, law enforcement officers were looking for a certain vehicle after receiving reports that someone in the vehicle had fired shots. When law enforcement found the vehicle, they found Moore inside the vehicle and in possession of a firearm. Moore is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior conviction for a felony crime.

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.

Moore was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal jury has convicted Jimmy Pilcher, age 49, of Porcupine, South Dakota, of Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation, three counts of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Witness Tampering, following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota.  The verdict was returned on April 9, 2026.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of sentence of 20 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, and a $600 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Pilcher was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2026. 

During the wintertime of 2024, Pilcher began a romantic relationship with the victim.  Shortly after their relationship started, Pilcher began controlling the victim by monitoring her communications with others.  When Pilcher started to lose control of his victim, he began assaulting her and using other forms of mental and emotional manipulation on her.  In July 2025, Pilcher saw a picture of the victim with another male and accused her of cheating on him.  Pilcher became enraged and punched the victim in the face and stomach and pulled her hair.  He used his knee to continuously strike the victim’s upper leg and outer thigh/hip area.  Pilcher then strangled the victim over a kitchen sink.  This strangulation caused the victim to see flashes of light and impeded her ability to breathe.  The next day she received medical attention at Indian Health Services, and the staff observed injuries consistent with abuse, including bruising around her neck.

In October 2025, Pilcher assaulted the same victim in the head and face inside a truck in rural Pine Ridge.  Witnesses intervened and were able to get the victim away from Pilcher.  The Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety responded to the scene and arrested Pilcher.  Following his arrest, Pilcher began contacting the victim from within the jail. Pilcher was able to convince the victim not to show up for court and was eventually released from jail.  A tribal protection order was, however, still in effect.

On December 5, 2025, in violation of the protection order, Pilcher took the victim inside his truck and drove to a field away from his residence.  While inside the truck, Pilcher accused her of cheating on him with another male. Pilcher dragged the victim across the seat, threw her out of the truck, and pulled her up by her hair.  During this beating, Pilcher struck the victim in the face, hit her in the back of the head, punched and kicked her with shod feet, and strangled her.  During the beating, Pilcher threatened to kill her and her family.  The victim was able to get away from Pilcher and got a ride to her house.  Pilcher was eventually arrested by law enforcement.

After his arrest, Pilcher contacted the victim from the jail in Pine Ridge.  Pilcher attempted to persuade the victim into not pursuing charges and pleaded with her not to report the full extent of the abuse.  Pilcher told the victim and his sister that he had spoken with law enforcement and was aware that his case was under federal investigation.  

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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.  The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that the District of South Dakota collected $9,516,233.90 through criminal fines, restitution, loan defaults, bankruptcy, forfeiture, and affirmative civil enforcement efforts in FY2025.  Moreover, the District of South Dakota worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $16,747,398.58. Of the total collections, $8.9 million was derived from criminal cases.  A significant portion of this amount—$8,801,058.91—was returned to victims of crime, underscoring the Office’s commitment to ensuring justice and support for those adversely affected by criminal acts.  The remainder was deposited into the Crime Victims Fund, a crucial resource that provides financial assistance to victims across the United States for costs arising from violent crime such as medical expenses, lost wages, mental health counseling, funeral expenses, and more.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Dakota, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $65,292,431 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025.  Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

“Thanks to the diligence and hard work of our U.S. Attorneys and the highly skilled staff in our Financial Litigation and Asset Recovery Units on behalf of South Dakota victims and taxpayers, we have held criminals accountable and done everything we can to make victims whole,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.  “We will continue to prioritize collection of restitution and debts to the federal government together with our law enforcement partners, as a critical part of our mission.”

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims.  The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss.  While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. 

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.  The sentencing took place on April 6, 2026.

Dallas Joseph Bluebird, III, 21, was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Bluebird was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in November 2024.  He pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026.

On June 30, 2024, Bluebird and another male subject exchanged gunfire with each other outside a Sioux Falls convenience store.  Despite numerous shots being fired, no one was hit by the gunfire.  Both subjects fled from the scene prior to police arrival, but investigators were able to identify Bluebird as one of the shooters based on DNA recovered from the firearm, which was left at the scene.  Bluebird is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2023 conviction for Second Degree Escape.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.  Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).  Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.

Bluebird was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

RAPID CITY – U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Guatemalan man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation.  The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026.

Mario Zetino-Alvarez, 25, was sentenced to time served.  He was then immediately deported and has arrived back in Guatemala.

Zetino-Alvarez was indicted for Illegal Reentry after Deportation by a federal grand jury in November 2025.  He pleaded guilty on December 19, 2025.

On October 21, 2025, law enforcement discovered Zetino-Alvarez in South Dakota.  They learned he is an alien unlawfully present in the United States having been previously deported from the United States in 2024.  Zetino-Alvarez did not receive permission to reenter the country. Reentering the United States after deportation is a federal 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. 

RAPID CITY – U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Guatemalan man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation.  The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026.

Wilber Zetino-Alvarez, 29, was sentenced to time served.  He was then immediately deported and has arrived back in Guatemala.

Zetino-Alvarez was indicted for Illegal Reentry after Deportation by a federal grand jury in November 2025.  He pleaded guilty on December 19, 2025.

On October 21, 2025, Zetino-Alvarez was found in the United States in South Dakota by law enforcement.  Law enforcement learned he is an alien unlawfully present in the United States.  He had been deported from the United States twice before. Zetino-Alvarez did not receive permission to reenter the country.  Reentering the United States after deportation is a federal 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. 

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Eagle Butte, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of Stolen Ammunition.  The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026.

Nathanal Benoist, age 26, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, ordered to forfeit a firearm and ammunition, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Benoist was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025.  He pleaded guilty on July 28, 2025.

The conviction stems from Benoist breaking into a store in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, in the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation on November 1, 2024, while the store was closed.  Benoist shot out the front window of the store, entered the store through the broken window, and stole 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 the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

Benoist was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.  The sentencing took place on April 6, 2026.

Amber Marie Gentapanan, 28, 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.

Gentapanan was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in August 2025.  She pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026.

The case arose on March 25, 2025, when Gentapanan possessed a semi-automatic pistol in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  She fled from law enforcement and discarded a bag containing the pistol but was apprehended.  She is prohibited from possessing any firearm due to her 2022 felony conviction for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.  Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).  Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.

Gentapanan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026.

Ezra Bald Eagle, 27, 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.

Bald Eagle was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in June 2025.  He pleaded guilty on December 22, 2025.

Between December 2024 and May 2025, Bald Eagle cultivated a network in the Rapid City area to facilitate the sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine.  Bald Eagle routinely traveled to Colorado to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl and then transported the narcotics into Rapid City.  Once back in South Dakota, Bald Eagle and his network of sub-distributors sold large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl within the Rapid City area. Bald Eagle’s operation ended on May 20, 2025, when law enforcement conducted a targeted traffic stop as Bald Eagle returned to South Dakota from purchasing narcotics in Colorado.  During the stop, officers seized over 3,300 counterfeit M/30 fentanyl pills, 96 grams of fentanyl powder, and three quarters of a pound of methamphetamine.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.  Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  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 Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.

Bald Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assault Resulting in Sioux Bodily Injury – Aiding and Abetting.  The sentencing took place on April 6, 2026.

Jessie Sutton, 37, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Sutton was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury – Aiding and Abetting, as well as Assault with a Dangerous Weapon – Aiding and Abetting by a federal grand jury in November 2024.  She pleaded guilty on December 22, 2025.

The charges stem from an incident in which Sutton and her sister, Joann Sutton, brutally attacked another woman about her body and head necessitating emergency surgery to address resultant brain 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 Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.

Sutton was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.