News and Press Releases
Redby man sentenced for burglary on the Red Lake Indian Reservation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS—Today in federal court, a 38-year-old Redby man was sentenced for his connection with a July 24, 2011, home invasion and burglary of a residence on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. United States District Chief Judge Michael J. Davis sentenced Robert Joseph Downwind to 151 months in federal prison on one count of burglary in the first degree. Downwind, who was indicted on September 12, 2011, pleaded guilty on February 15, 2012. Â
In his plea agreement, Downwind admitted that on July 24, 2011, at approximately 2:00 a.m., he entered a residence by cutting the screen on an open window. In addition, Downwind admitted he intended to steal money and other items while the homeowner, whom he did not know, slept in her bedroom. While he was inside the residence, the homeowner woke and confronted him. Downwind assaulted her, pushed her to the ground, and took her purse, which contained money and identification cards.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad. Because the Red Lake Indian Reservation is a federal-jurisdiction reservation, some of the crimes that occur there are investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Those cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.