Press Release
Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Over Three Years for Involuntary Manslaughter
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter.
Devin White Calf, age 23, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
White Calf was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in December of 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 5, 2024.
In September of 2023, White Calf consumed alcohol with a group of friends and relatives. At some point, White Calf drove his group to a place called “Top of the World.” This location is just west of Pine Ridge. At this location, the group continued to drink alcohol. While leaving “Top of the World,” White Calf lost control of the vehicle. One of the passengers, a 16-year-old female, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries. Multiple other passengers were also ejected from the car and sustained bodily injuries. Law enforcement was dispatched to the scene because individuals nearby could hear screaming and crying. When law enforcement arrived on scene, White Calf told them that he was not driving and that someone with the last name “Titus” was driving. Several months later, White Calf eventually admitted to law enforcement that he was the driver.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe – Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
White Calf was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Updated October 29, 2024
Topic
Indian Country Law and Justice
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