Lower Brule Man Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute Diazepam

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Diazepam.

Russell Ronald Thigh, age 38, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 20, 2011. He appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on April 3, 2012, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 5 years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The charge is merely an accusation, and Thigh is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay Miller. Thigh was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for May 29, 2012.