TRIBAL JUSTICE NEWS
WEEK OF APRIL 20, 2011

U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke Hosts Event Honoring Victims of Crime (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)

U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke and officials from federal and state law enforcement agencies met on April 14, 2011, with family members of crime victims to honor their loved ones, and other victims, who were lost to violent crimes. The event, which was held in observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, also paid tribute to advocates, prosecutors, investigators and other individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to assist victims of crime.  Among the attendees were representatives from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal law enforcement agencies.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/news_archive_2011.html

New Mexico Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Sexual 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 April 8, 2011, before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard L. Puglisi, Derrick Ivan Jim, a 28-year-old resident of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse. Jim faces up to 188 months in prison and five years of supervised release.  Jim is also required to register as a sex offender.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/2011/2011-02-08_jim_plea_pr.pdf

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (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 April 12, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, Christopher Allen Spider,  a resident of Chamberlain, S.D., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance.  Spider faces up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/Pierre-2011-04-12-Spider.html

North Dakota Man Sentenced for 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 Bismark, N.D., on April 7, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Patrick A. Conmy, Joel C. Gohl, a 35-year-old resident of Cannonball, N. D., was sentenced to 33 months in prison, three years of supervised release, $46,280.27 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund. Gohl was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of assault with a dangerous weapon.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nd/pressreleases/2011/04-07-2011-Gohl%20Sentenced.pdf

North Dakota Man Sentenced for Bar Burglary (U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota)

U S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that during a federal court session in Bismark, N.D., on April 7, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Patrick A. Conmy, Scott Nalley, a 22-year-old resident of Fort Rice, N. D., was sentenced to two years in prison, three years of supervised release, $6,803.32 in restitution and a special assessment of $100 to the Crime Victim’s Fund. Nalley was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of bar burglary.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nd/pressreleases/2011/04-07-2011-Nalley%20Sentenced.pdf

Michigan Man Sentenced for Attempted Murder and Assault on Indian Reservation (U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan)

U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced that during a federal court session in Mount Pleasant, Mich., on April 14, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington, David Andrew Delacruz-Slavik, a 30-year-old resident of Mount Pleasant, was sentenced to 365 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Delacruz-Slavik was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of attempted murder and assault.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/mie/news.html#apr2010

Washington Couple Sentenced for Selling Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles (U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington)

U.S. Attorney Michael C. Ormsby announced that during a federal court session in Yakima, Wash., on April 14, 2011, Ricky S. Wahchumwah, and his wife, Victoria M. Jim, both residents of Granger, Wash., were sentenced in connection with their guilty pleas of conspiring to sell bald eagles and golden eagles. Wahchumwah was sentenced to one month in jail, three months of home confinement, two years of supervised release and a $425 penalty. Jim was sentenced to two weeks in jail, three months of home confinement, two years of supervised release and a $325 penalty. Wahchumwah and Jim are also required to forfeit illegal eagle parts, several firearms and a Suburban automobile.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/waw/press/2011/apr_2011.html

Minnesota Man Sentenced for Assaulting (U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota)

U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones announced that during a federal court session in Red Lake, Minn., on April 14, 2011, before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim, Ervin Allen Iceman, a 28-year-old resident of Red Lake, was sentenced to three years probation and 10 months in a halfway house. Iceman was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea for assaulting a woman.

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

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (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 April 18, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, T.J. Shan Looking Horse, a 22-year-old resident of Pierre, was sentenced to 33 months in prison, two years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund. Looking Horse was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea of assault with a deadly weapon.

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

South Dakota Woman Sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (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 April 12, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, Shana Schmidt, a 37-year-old resident of Pierre, was sentenced to 51 months in prison, three years of supervised release, $64,088.06 in restitution to Medicaid of South Dakota and $193.50 in restitution to the South Dakota Crime Victim's Compensation Fund. Schmidt was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

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

Mississippi Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement from an Indian Tribal Organization (U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi)

U.S. Attorney John M. Dowdy Jr. announced that during a federal court session on April 15, 2011, before Senior U.S. District Judge David Bramlette, Penni Tingle, 42, pleaded guilty to embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization.  Tingle’s sentencing has been scheduled for July 12, 2011. 

http://www.justice.gov/usao/mss/press/index.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Operating a Vehicle under the Influence of Alcohol (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 April 19, 2011, before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno, Kalup McGhee, a 19-year-old resident of Pukwana, S.D., pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol resulting in serious bodily injury of a minor child. McGhee faces up to five years in prison, a $1,000 fine, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.  Restitution may also be ordered.  McGhee’s sentencing date is scheduled for July 18, 2011.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/Pierre-2011-04-19-McGhee.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of a Controlled Substance (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that during a federal court session in Rapid City, S.D., on April 15, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, James Franco, a 31-year-old resident of Pine Ridge, S.D., pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance. Franco faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Franco’s sentencing has been scheduled for July 11, 2011.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/RC-2011-04-15-Franco.html

Wyoming Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child (U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming)

U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Crofts announced that during a federal court session on April 18, 2011, Wolfe Jon Taylor, a 25-year-old member of the Northern Arapaho tribe, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact with a minor. Taylor faces up to 36 months in prison and 15 years of supervised release.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/wy/pressrel/index.html