Mission Man Sentenced for Possession of Cocaine

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance was sentenced on December 19, 2017, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno.

Charles Griffen Spotted Elk, age 21, was sentenced to 18 months probation, a $1,000 fine, forfeiture of U.S. currency seized by law enforcement, and a special assessment of $25 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Spotted Elk was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 16, 2017, for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  He pled guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance on December 19, 2017.

On November 6, 2016, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Law Enforcement Service Officers performed a traffic stop on a vehicle near Mission, in which Spotted Elk was a passenger.  Found inside the vehicle under the seat where Spotted Elk was sitting, was a plastic baggie containing 7.22 grams of cocaine and 2.88 grams of marijuana.  Also found on Spotted Elk during the traffic stop was $56 in United States currency, and $538 in United States currency in the wallet belonging to the driver of the vehicle.  Spotted Elk agreed to forfeit any interest he may have had in the currency. 

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.

Spotted Elk was released on conditions following sentencing.