Rosebud Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Pius Whirlwind Soldier, age 63, of Rosebud, South Dakota, appeared before United States District Judge Roberto A. Lange on May 23, 2012, and pled guilty to an Information that charged him with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 5 years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; 2 years up to life of supervised release; and a $100 special assessment.

The conviction arose from incidents when Pius Whirlwind Soldier ordered four separate shipments of high grade marijuana from California and had it sent to him at a post office box in Rosebud. After he paid for the marijuana with money orders, Whirlwind Soldier kept some of the marijuana for personal use and distributed the rest to others.

The investigation was conducted by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay Miller.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for August 14, 2012. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.