TRIBAL JUSTICE NEWS
WEEK OF DECEMBER 28, 2010

Contact: Jessica Smith, Office of Public Affairs: (202) 514-2007

U.S. Attorney Announced the Winners of the “Working Hard, Making A Difference” Awards for Exceptional Contributions in Indian Country (U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana)
U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter announced on Dec. 22, 2010, the first three winners in the inaugural presentation of the District of Montana’s “Working Hard, Making A Difference” Award.  The award was created to recognize individuals in Indian country who have made significant contributions to public safety.  The first three winners of the “Working Hard, Making A Difference” Award were chosen from submissions made by community members to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

www.justice.gov/usao/mt/pressreleases/last20.html

Michigan Man Sentenced for Domestic Assault and Gun Possession (U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan)
U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade announced on Dec. 21, 2010, that a 34-year-old Saginaw Chippewa Tribal member and resident of Mount Pleasant, Mich., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington to 40 months in custody followed by three years of supervised release, after having pleaded guilty on Aug. 19, 2010 to domestic assault by an habitual offender and felon in possession of a firearm.  Between December 2009 to March of 2010, Howard James Compo, a convicted felon, assaulted the victim and possessed firearms on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Reservation in Isabella County, Mich.  During one occasion, Compo pointed a shotgun at the victim’s head before shooting the gun inside the home.

www.justice.gov/usao/mie/press/index.html

Montana Man Sentenced in U.S. District Court (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 Dec. 21, 2010, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, a 47-year-old resident of Lame Deer, Mont., was sentenced to 46 months in prison, a $100 special assessment and five years supervised release.  Roy Franklin Todd was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  According to court documents, since 2005, George Morris has headed a drug organization that distributes methamphetamine in the Billings area, as well as the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations.  The organization distributed methamphetamine.  Todd has been distributing meth for Morris since 2006. 

www.justice.gov/usao/mt/pressreleases/last20.html

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Child Abuse and Resisting a Federal Officer (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Rosebud, S.D., man charged with child abuse and resisting or impeding a federal officer was sentenced on Dec. 20, 2010, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.  Joseph Williams, 22, was sentenced to 33 months in prison on the child abuse charge and 12 months in prison on the resisting or impeding a federal officer charge, with the sentences to run concurrently; three years of supervised release; and a $125 special assessment.  The charges relate to Williams operating a motor vehicle, while under the influence of alcohol, in Todd County, S.D., on June 5, 2010.  He fled from law enforcement and crashed the vehicle, which contained five minor children, into a ditch.  Two children were thrown from the vehicle and injured.  He pleaded guilty to the child abuse and resisting or impeding a federal officer charges on Sept. 28, 2010.          
               
www.justice.gov/usao/sd/Media.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Burglary (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Troy Young Fairbanks, 18, of Lower Brule, S.D., appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on Dec. 20, 2010, and pleaded guilty to first degree burglary.  The charge relates to Fairbanks unlawfully entering or remaining in an occupied structure, with the intent to commit the crime of larceny, in Buffalo County, S.D., on July 13, 2010. 
               
www.justice.gov/usao/sd/Media.html

Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Bobby Wayne Thomas, 27, of Jewett, Texas, appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on Dec. 20, 2010, and pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.  The charge relates to Thomas assaulting another male with a knife at Upper Swift Bear Housing Community in Mellette County, S.D., on Nov. 15, 2010.
                     
www.justice.gov/usao/sd/Media.html
             
Montana Man Sentenced for Aiding and Abetting Burglary (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 Dec. 20, 2010, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, a 21-year-old resident of Crow Agency, Mont., was sentenced to 18 months in prison, a $100 special assessment and three years supervised release.  Raymond Otto White was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to aiding and abetting burglary.  According to court documents, on the morning of Feb.18, 2010, Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement received a burglary complaint from St. Dennis Catholic Church.  There is a residence on the property occupied by a nun.  The officers learned that the nun’s residence was burglarized sometime the previous evening and approximately $500 in cash from bingo and three personal checks were stolen.  Both White and his co-defendant admitted that they planned the burglary.
      
www.justice.gov/usao/mt/pressreleases/last20.html
       
Montana Man Sentenced for Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization (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 Dec. 20, 2010, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, a 60-year-old resident of Wolf Point, Mont., was sentenced to six months in prison, a $100 special assessment and three years supervised release.  Edward Orvel Smith was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to theft from an Indian tribal organization. 

www.justice.gov/usao/mt/pressreleases/last20.html

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Possession of a Stolen Firearm (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte, S.D., man charged with possession of a stolen firearm was sentenced on Dec. 20, 2010, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.  Jason Garreau, 24, was sentenced to 12 months of home confinement, two years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund.  Garreau was indicted for possession of a stolen firearm by a federal grand jury on Feb. 18, 2010.  The charge relates to the possession of a stolen firearm on or about Jan. 5, 2009.  Garreau pleaded guilty on Sept. 28, 2010.
               
www.justice.gov/usao/sd/Media.html

Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Woman (U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota)
U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones announced on Dec. 20, 210, that a 29-year-old Red Lake, Minn., man pleaded guilty in federal court in Minneapolis to assaulting a woman in May 2010, causing her a broken nose. Orville Dean White Jr., a member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. White, who was indicted on Aug.19, 2010, entered his plea before U.S. District Court Judge John R. Tunheim.  In his plea agreement, White admitted that on May 1, 2010, he punched a female resident of the Red Lake Indian Reservation, breaking her nose.

www.justice.gov/usao/mn/press.html