Pine Ridge Man Indicted for Cocaine Distribution

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for distributing over 500 grams of cocaine in the District of South Dakota in 2005 and 2006.

Aaron Blackwater, age 28, was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 17, 2011, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Blackwater appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on May 24, 2011, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 40 years of imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, or both; up to life of supervised release; and a special assessment of $100 to the Victim Assistance Fund. The charge is merely an accusation, and Blackwater is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team. Special Assistant United States Attorney Ted L. McBride is prosecuting the case. Blackwater was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.