Mission Man Faces Cocaine Charges

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Charles Griffen Spotted Elk, age 20, was indicted on May 16, 2017. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 13, 2017, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $1,000,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on November 6, 2016, Spotted Elk possessed cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with the intent to distribute it within the District of South Dakota.

The charge is merely an accusation and Spotted Elk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan is prosecuting the case.

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