United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

Nevin Thomas Joaquin, age 29, was indicted on December 12, 2017.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Daneta Wollmann on December 14, 2017, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalties upon conviction are life in prison, a $10,000,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, forfeiture of firearms, ammunition, and U.S. currency, and a special assessment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between September 1, 2013, and December 12, 2017, Joaquin knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.  The Indictment further alleges that on April 1, 2016, and February 18, 2016, Joaquin unlawfully possessed firearms. 

The charges are merely accusations and Joaquin is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan is prosecuting the case.   

Joaquin was ordered to be detained.  A trial date has been set for February 20, 2018.