Red Lake Man Charged With Assault, Sexual Abuse

MINNEAPOLIS – A Red Lake man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to a sexual assault occurring on the Red Lake Indian Reservation.

According to court documents, between September 26 and 27, 2020, Tony Lee Lussier, 38, of Red Lake, Minnesota, assaulted a victim with a knife. The indictment also alleges that Lussier engaged in a sexual act with the victim who at the time was physically incapable of declining participation in the act.

Lussier is charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of sexual abuse of an incapable victim. Lussier made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung. Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk of the District of Minnesota made the announcement.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.