TRIBAL JUSTICE NEWS
WEEK OF MARCH 30, 2011

Idaho Man Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho)
U.S. Attorney B. Wendy J. Olson announced that during a federal court session, on March 21, 2011, Chris Clay Gober, a 32-year-old member of the Coeur d'Alene tribe, was sentenced to 84 months in prison, three years of supervised release and 100 hours of community service. Gober was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of unlawful possession of a firearm.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/id/news/2011/mar/gober03212011.html

Idaho Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine (U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho)
U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced that during a federal court session, on March 21, 2011, Daniel Bisher, a 36-year-old member of the Coeur d'Alene tribe, was sentenced to 168 months in prison, five years of supervised release and 100 hours of community service. Bisher must also forfeit two firearms in his possession. Bisher was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distributing methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a firearm.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/id/news/2011/mar/bisher03212011.html

Oklahoma Man Indicted for Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization (U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma)
U.S. Attorney Mark F. Green announced that during a federal court session, on March 21, 2011, before Magistrate Judge Steven P. Shreder, Mark Allen Cummins Jr., a 31-year-old resident of Tahlequah, Okla., was indicted for possession of stolen firearms and embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization. If convicted, Cummins faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of stolen firearms. He faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization. Cummins’ trial is scheduled for May 2, 2011.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/oke/press0311.html

Two Arizona Men Found Guilty for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)
U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke announced that during a federal court session, on March 21, 2011, before U.S. District Court Senior Judge Frank R. Zapata, brothers Norman and Pancho Garcia, members of the Tohono O’Odham Tribe, were found guilty of two counts each of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count each of use of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. The Garcia Brothers face up to life in prison.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/press_releases/2011/PR_03222011_Garcia.pdf

Utah Woman Sentenced for Aggravated Sexual Assault (U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah)
U.S. Attorney Carlie Christensen announced that during a federal court session, on March 21, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart, Cynthia Bitsuie Jones, a 41-year-old resident of Montezuma Creek, Utah, was sentenced to 140 months in prison and supervised release for life. Jones was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea of aggravated sexual assault.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/ut/press/releases/Bitsuie%20sentencing.pdf

North Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that during a federal court session in Bismarck, N.D., before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Daniel L. Hovland, Kevin J. Lafontaine, a 35-year-old resident of Belcourt, N.D., pleaded guilty to three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. Lafontaine faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of assault. Lafontaine’s sentencing trial has been scheduled for June 13, 2011.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nd/pressreleases/2011/3-21-2011-Lafontaine%20Plea.pdf

Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Murder (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)
U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke announced that during a federal court session, on March 21, 2011, before Senior Judge John C. Coughenour, Gerardo Benito Ramirez, a 20-year-old member of the Pascua Yaqui Indian Tribe, pleaded guilty to second degree murder. Ramirez faces up to 210 months in prison and a $250,000 fine. Ramirez’s sentencing is scheduled for June 3, 2011.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/press_releases/2011/PR_03232011_Ramirez.pdf

Montana Man Indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (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 March 23, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, Nathan Long Sioux Sr., a 24-year-old resident of Busby, Mont., was indicted for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of this charge, Long Sioux faces up 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/mt/pressreleases/20110323162357.html

South Dakota Man Indicted for Sexual Contact with a Minor (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session on March 21, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno, Gilbert Oliver Crow Eagle Jr., a 57-year-old resident of Rosebud, S.D., was indicted for having sexual contact with and sexually abusing two children under the age of 12. If convicted, Crow Eagle face up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Restitution may also be ordered. Crow Eagle’s trial has been scheduled for May 3, 2011.

http://minneapolis.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel11/mp032111d.htm

Michigan Man Sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan)
U.S. Attorney Donald Davis announced that during a federal court session, before U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell, John Robert Gugin, a 24-year-old member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe, was sentenced to 36 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $200 special assessment. Gugin was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/miw/press/2011_0324_JGugin.html

Michigan Man Indicted for Felon in Possession of a Firearm (U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan)
U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced that during a federal court session on March 23, 2011, Gonzalo Alaniz Jr., a 43-year-old resident of Mount Pleasant, Mich., was indicted for felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and discharging of a firearm in a building. If convicted, Alaniz faces up to 10 years in prison.

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

Michigan Man Indicted for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan)
U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced that during a federal court session on March 23, 2011, N’Daunis Marcy Chupco, a 35-year-old member of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, was indicted for assault with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm. If convicted, Chupco faces up to 10 years in prison.

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

Arizona Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a Minor (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)
U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke announced that during a federal court session, on March 24, 2011, before U.S. District Court Judge Marvin E. Aspen, Christopher Bryan Garcia, a 23-year-old member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, was sentenced to 40 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. Garcia is also required to register as a sex offender. Garcia was sentenced in connection with his conviction of sexual abuse of a minor.

http://phoenix.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel11/px032411b.html

Arizona Woman Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Five Grams or More of Actual Methamphetamine (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)
U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke announced that during a federal court session, on March 21, 2011, before Honorable Paul G. Rosenblatt, Windy Whirlwindsoldier, a 33-year-old resident of Tuba City, Ariz., was sentenced to 42 months in prison. Whirlwindsoldier was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of actual methamphetamine

http://phoenix.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel11/px032411.htm

Two Arizona Men Indicted for Embezzlement from a Tribal Organization (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)
U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke announced that during a federal court session, on March 21, 2011, before Honorable Paul G. Rosenblatt, Franklin Joseph Jackson and Lloyd Notah Jr., members of the Gila River Tribe, were indicted for embezzlement from a tribal organization. Jackson and Notah face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

http://phoenix.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel11/px032411a.html

New Mexico Man Found Guilty of 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 March 24, 2011, before District Judge M. Christina Armijo, Carl Ernesto Romero, a 20-year-old member of the Arapaho Indian Tribe, was convicted of second degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and use of a firearm in relation to the violent crime of assault.

http://www.fbi.gov/albuquerque/press-releases/2011/okay-owingeh-man-convicted-of-murder-by-federal-jury

North Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse (U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that during a federal court session in Bismarck, N.D., on March 25, 2011, before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Daniel L. Hovland, Gerard G. LoveJoy Sr., a 35-year-old resident of Tokio, N.D., pleaded guilty to sexual abuse and a charge of commission of a federal sex offense by registered sex offender. Lovejoy faces up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. Lovejoy’s sentencing has been scheduled for June 13, 2011.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nd/news/2011/03-25-11-LoveJoySr Pleads Guilty.html

Washington Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Robbery (U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington)
U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced that during a federal court session, on March 25, 2011, in Seattle, before U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones, Kenneth Robinson, a 33-year-old member of the Tulalip Tribe, was sentenced to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Robinson was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea for conspiracy to commit robbery.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/waw/press/2011/mar/robinson.html

New Mexico Man Pleads Guilty to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (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 March 24, 2011, Diono H. Pete, a 48-year-old member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Pete faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

http://www.fbi.gov/albuquerque/press-releases/2011/pressrelease

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session on March 28, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, Reuben W. One Star, a 21-year-old resident of Mission, S.D., was sentenced to 32 months in prison, three years of supervised release, a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund and $24,745.10 in restitution. One Star was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of involuntary manslaughter of a child.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/Pierre-2011-03-28-One%20Star.html

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal Officer (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session on March 28, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, Lance Dean Dorian, a 26-year-old resident of Rosebud, S.D., was sentenced to five months in custody, five months of home confinement, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund. Dorian was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of assaulting a federal officer.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/Pierre-2011-03-28-Dorian.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Federal Officer (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session on March 28, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, Tyler J. Peterson, a 30-year-old resident of Eagle Butte, S.D., pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer. Peterson faces up to 20 years in prison. Peterson’s sentencing has been scheduled for June 13, 2011.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/Pierre-2011-03-28-Peterson.html