Pine Ridge Man and Rapid City Woman Convicted of Drug Trafficking

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man, and a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencings took place on May 29, 2025, and June 6, 2025, respectively.

Tyler Eagle Elk, 38, was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Larissa Ross, 39, was sentenced to one year and eight months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Eagle Elk and Ross were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in April 2024. Eagle Elk pleaded guilty on March 7, 2024. Ross pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025.

Ross and Eagle Elk worked together to distribute cocaine in the Rapid City area. Investigators became aware of the two when the postal inspector intercepted a package containing approximately a half pound of cocaine addressed to their home. In the course of the conspiracy, Ross and Eagle Elk were involved in the distribution of more than a kilogram of cocaine.

This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Division of Criminal Investigation. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.

Eagle Elk and Ross were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.