St. Francis Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on April 2, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Anthony Zotti, age 21, was sentenced to 13 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Zotti was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 14, 2017.  He pled guilty on October 17, 2017.

The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on May 24, 2017.  On that date a Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services officer responded to a request for assistance, in St. Francis, where Zotti was engaged in a fight with another man.  The officer separated the men and placed Zotti in his patrol vehicle.  Zotti began banging his head against the window while sitting in the patrol vehicle.  The officer then transported Zotti to the Rosebud Indian Health Services Hospital for treatment for a wound on his head.  While he was being treated, Zotti became combative and attempted to kick the officer.  Zotti then grabbed the officer’s hand and bit him.  Zotti furthermore verbally threatened the officer and his family.

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

Zotti was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.