Oglala Man Indicted For Destruction Of Government Property

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Oglala, South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly damaging a vehicle belonging to the U.S. General Services Administration in March 2011.

Eldon Ray Tobacco, age 25, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 29, 2012 for Destruction of Government Property. Tobacco appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on April 11, 2013 and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is one year of imprisonment and a $100,000 fine.

The charge is merely an accusation and Tobacco is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen is prosecuting the case.

Tobacco was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for June 18, 2013.