Tribal Justice News - May 19, 2011

Arizona Man Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)

U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke announced, on May 11, 2011, the arrest of Jaime Abraham Gonzales, a 46-year-old resident of Phoenix, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Gonzales faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, a four million dollar fine, or both.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/PR_05112011_Gonzales.html

New Mexico Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico)

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that during a federal court session in Albuquerque, N.M., on May 11, 2011, Scott Daniel Benavidez, a 29-year-old member of the Pueblo of Kewa, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Benavidez faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/2011/2011-05-11_benavidez_pr.pdf

Utah Man Charged With Assault (U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah)

U.S. Attorney Carlie Christensen announced, on May 11, 2011, the indictment of Donovan Ray Silas, a 37-year-old resident of Montezuma Creek, Utah, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, on one charge of assault. If convicted, Silas faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

http://saltlakecity.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel11/slc051111a.htm

Montana Woman Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana)

U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter announced that during a federal court session in Billings, Mont., on May 11, 2011, Kristi Mae Little Wolf, a 35-year-old resident of Billings, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, a $100 special assessment and three years supervised release. Little Wolf was sentenced in connection to her guilty plea of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/mt/pressreleases/20110512131533.html

Oklahoma Group Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Possession of Controlled Substances with the Intent to Distribute (U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma)

U.S. Attorney Mark F. Green announced, on May 12, 2011, the arrests of Patrick Springwater, a 23-year-old resident of Stilwell, Okla .; Amber Wolfe, a 27-year-old resident of Stilwell; Christopher Sanders, a 26-year-old-resident of Stilwell; Johnny Grimmett a 38-year-old resident of Stilwell; Jack Frogg, a 33-year-old resident of Stilwell; Damien Cookson, a 29-year-old resident of Tahlequah, Okla .; and Carrie Caforia, a 32-year-old resident of Tahlequah, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute. All seven individuals face a maximum penalty of life in prison; a $4 million dollar fine; no less than five years of supervised release; and a $100 mandatory special assessment.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/oke/press0511.html#drugtraf

Two New Mexico Men Plead Guilty to Federal Voluntary Manslaughter (U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico)

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that during a federal court session in Albuquerque, N.M., on May 12, 2011, 20-year-old Brian Thompson and 22-year-old Presley Shorty, both members of the Navajo nation, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Thompson and Shorty both face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. In addition, Thompson pleaded guilty to charges of use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/2011/2011-05-12_thompson-shorty_pr.pdf

Montana Man Sentenced for Failure to Report the Taking of a Threatened species and Illegal Possession of Parts of a Threatened Species (U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana)

U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, Mont., on May 12, 2011, Joseph Cree Medicine Jr., a 26-year-old resident of Browning, Mont., was sentenced to three years probation, a $500 fine and a $50 special assessment. Medicine was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of failure to report the taking of a threatened species and illegal possession of parts of a threatened species.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/mt/pressreleases/20110512134250.html

New Mexico Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder (U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico)

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that during a federal court session in Albuquerque, N.M., on May 12, 2011, Elias Whitmore, a 19-year-old member of the Pueblo of Laguna, pleaded guilty to second degree murder. Whitmore faces a maximum penalty of 210 months in prison.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/2011/2011-05-12_whitmore_pr.pdf

Minnesota Man Indicted for Sexually Abusing Two Girls (U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota)

U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones announced, on May 12, 2011, the indictment of Byron Keith Kingbird Jr., a 21-year-old resident of Red Lake, Minn., on one count of sexual abuse of a minor and one count of abusive sexual contact. If convicted, Kingbird faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison on the charge of abusive sexual contact and a potential maximum penalty of 15 years on the charge of sexual abuse of a minor.

http://minneapolis.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel11/mp051311.htm

New Mexico Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Sex Abuse (U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico)

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that during a federal court session in Albuquerque, N.M., on May 13, 2011, Alphonso Chavez, a 48-year-old member of the Pueblo of Zuni, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a child under the age of 16. Under the plea agreement, Chavez will serve 10 years in prison and no less than five years of supervised release.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/2011/2011-05-13_chavez_pr.pdf

New Mexico Man Sentenced for Second Degree Murder (U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico)

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that during a federal court session in Albuquerque, N.M., on May 16, 2011, Patrick Baptiste, a 51-year-old member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced to a 25 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Baptiste was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of second degree murder.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/2011/2011-05-16_baptiste_pr.pdf

New Mexico Man Sentenced for Federal Child Sex Abuse (U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico)

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that during a federal court session in Albuquerque, N.M., on May 17, 2011, Raymond Joseph Martin, a 62-year-old member of the Pueblo of Laguna, was sentenced to a 97 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. Baptiste was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of sexually abusing a child under the age of twelve.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/2011/2011-05-17_martin_pr.pdf

New Mexico Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault Charges (U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico)

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that during a federal court session in Las Cruces, N.M., on May 17, 2011, Gene Collins Ahidley, a 28-year-old member of the Mescalero Apache Nation, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault with a deadly weapon. Ahidley faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each assault offense.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/2011/2011-05-17_ahidley_pr.pdf

Arizona Man Indicted for First Degree Murder (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)

U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke announced, on May 17, 2011, the indictment of Jalen Montana, a 34-year-old resident of Sells, Ariz., on one count of first degree murder. If convicted, Montana faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/news.html

Arizona Woman Sentenced for Selling Methamphetamine (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)

U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke announced that during a federal court session in Phoenix on May 18, 2011, Terri Raye Van Winkle, a 23-year-old resident of Tuba City, Ariz., was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison. Van Winkle was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five grams or more of actual methamphetamine.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/news.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session in Pierre, S.D., on May 18, 2011, Earl Dowty, a 45-year-old resident of Oelrichs, S.D., pleaded guilty to the charge of felon in possession of a firearm. Dowty faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; a $250,000 fine; three years of supervised release; and a special assessment of $100.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/Pierre-2011-05-18-Dowty.html

Oklahoma Men Indicted For Illegal Possession and Sale of Bald Eagle Carcass and Eagle Feathers (U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma)

U.S. Attorney Sanford C. Coats announced, on May 18, 2011, the indictment of William Creepingbear, a 50-year-old member of the Kiowa Tribe; Tuhtaka Neshoba Wilson, a 38-year-old member of the Choctaw Tribe; Brandon Roberts, a 34-year-old member of the Chicksaw Nation; and Michael J. Yount, a 37-year-old resident of Norman, Okla., on counts of illegally possessing, transporting and selling a Bald Eagle carcass and feathers. If convicted, each of these four defendants face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/okw/news/2011/2011_05_18.html

Washington Man Charged with Domestic Violence Assault (U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington)

U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced that during a federal court session in Seattle on May 18, 2011, Jonathan H. Jack, a 28-year-old member of the Swinomish Indian Tribe, was charged with domestic assault by a habitual offender and assault by striking, beating or wounding. If convicted, Jack faces up to five years in federal prison.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/waw/press/2011/may/jack.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Contact (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session in Pierre, S.D., on May 18, 2011, Sonny J. Antelope, a 28-year-old resident of Pukwana, S.D., pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact by force. Antelope faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/Pierre-2011-05-18-Antelope.html

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a Minor by Fear (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session in Aberdeen, S.D., on May 16, 2011, Frederick One Feather, a 62-year-old resident of McLaughlin, S.D., was sentenced to two life sentences to be served concurrently and a $300 special assessment. One Feather was sentenced on two counts of sexual abuse of a minor by fear and one count of abusive sexual contact.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/Pierre-2011-05-16-One%20Feather.html

South Dakota Man Sentenced for First Degree Burglary (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session in Pierre, S.D., on May 17, 2011, Duran Kelly, a 22-year-old resident of Rosebud, S.D., was sentenced to 27 months in prison, four years of supervised release and a $100 assessment. Kelly was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of first degree burglary.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/Pierre-2011-05-17-Kelly.html

South Dakota Man Sentenced for First Degree Burglary (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session in Pierre, S.D., on May 17, 2011, Jesse Andrew, a 21-year-old resident of Rosebud, S.D., was sentenced to six months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $100 assessment. Kelly was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of first degree burglary.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/Pierre-2011-05-17-Andrews.html

South Dakota Woman Sentenced for Health Care Fraud (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session in Aberdeen, S.D., on May 16, 2011, Amanda Marie Adams, a 25-year-old resident of Agency Village, S.D., was sentenced to 18 months probation, a $250 fine and a $100 assessment. Adams was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of first degree burglary.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/news.html