Lower Brule Man Indicted For Controlled Substance Violations

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Joshua Brouse, age 29, was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 15, 2013 for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Analogue, and Use of a Communication Facility in Causing or Facilitating the Commission of a Felony Under the Controlled Substances Act. Brouse appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 30, 2013 and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years of imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, or both; 3 years of supervised release, an additional 2 years of supervised release upon revocation; and a mandatory $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

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

The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and Bureau of Indian Affairs, Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich is prosecuting the case.

Brouse was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A trial date has not been set.