Eagle Butte Man Indicted on Wildlife and Larceny Charges

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a Lacey Act Violation and Larceny.

Dugan Traversie, age 39, was indicted on February 12, 2020.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 18, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each Count.  Restitution may also be ordered. 

The Indictment alleges that sometime between October 28, 2019, and November 4, 2019, Traversie harvested a white-tailed deer outside of the tribal hunting season, in violation of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe hunting laws and regulations. After Traversie shot the deer, he left and returned the next day to remove the head and left the carcass behind. The white-tailed deer had a value of more than $1,000. 

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

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Game, Fish and Parks Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.   

Traversie was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.