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Press Release

Eagle Butte Man Found Guilty on Drug Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Waylon Young Bird, 49, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance as a result of a two-day federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota. 

The conviction carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in prison and an $11,000,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of 5 years up to life of supervised release once released from prison, and $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  

 Young Bird was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 15, 2018. 

The jury found that from January 1, 2016 until May 15, 2018, Young Bird had knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, which is a Schedule II controlled substance on, the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.  The Jury also convicted Young Bird of knowingly and intentionally possessing with the intent to distribute a detectable amount of methamphetamine from a March 9, 2018, traffic stop. During this stop, Young Bird was found to have just under 10 grams of methamphetamine hidden in his sock in eight little baggies.  Also found during the stop were 74 unused baggies, a straw fashioned into a scoop and a spoon.

The investigation was conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for May 16, 2019.  The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Updated April 12, 2019