Two Men Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that two men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Stanley Councillor, age 75, from Mitchell, South Dakota, and Ryan Scott, age 26, from Fort Thompson, South Dakota, were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 18, 2012.

Ryan appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 5, 2012, and pled not guilty to the indictment. Stanley Councillor appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 10, 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 Councillor and Scott are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Mellette County Sheriff’s Department, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay Miller.

Scott was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending trial. Councillor was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not yet been set.